Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “naturalism” come from?

Naturalism derives from English natural combined with the Ancient Greek suffix -ισμός, which builds on -μός, ultimately from Latin naturalis, formed from the root nascor meaning "to be born."

naturalism (English): A state of nature; conformity to nature; The...

Definitions

  1. A state of nature; conformity to nature; The...

Ancestry of “naturalism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnaturalThat exists and evolved within the confines of an...
2Middle Englishnaturalintrinsic, fundamental, basic; relating to...
3Old Frenchnaturalnatural
4Latinnātūrālis—
5Latinnātūra—
6Latinnātus—
7Latingnātus—
8Proto-Italicgnātos—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanǵn̥h₁tósbegotten, produced
10Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth

Words derived from “naturalism”

  • nonnaturalism
  • antinaturalism
  • hypernaturalism
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- →