Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “naturalist” come from?

Naturalist derives from English natural combined with Latin -ista, from Ancient Greek -ιστής (one who practices), from Ancient Greek -ίζω (to practice), ultimately tracing to Latin nascor (to be born), which also produced Latin -alis (relating to).

naturalist (English): A natural philosopher; a scientist; A person who...

Definitions

  1. A natural philosopher; a scientist; A person who...

Ancestry of “naturalist”, 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 “naturalist”

  • naturalistic
  • naturalistically
  • nonnaturalistic
  • supranaturalistic
  • antinaturalistic
  • antinaturalist
  • unnaturalistic
  • nonnaturalist
  • unnaturalistically
  • hypernaturalistic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- →