Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “oncology” come from?

Oncology derives from New Latin onco-, from Ancient Greek ὄγκος meaning tumor or swelling, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ónkos, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European suffix -os.

oncology (English): The branch of medicine concerned with tumors,...

Definitions

  1. The branch of medicine concerned with tumors,...

Ancestry of “oncology”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1New Latinonco-tumor
2Ancient Greekὄγκοςbulk, volume, mass, heap, weight; tumor;...
3Proto-Italiconkos—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ónkosbend, turn
5Proto-Indo-European-osCreates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...

Words derived from “oncology”

  • oncologist
  • oncologic
  • oncological
  • oncologically
  • neurooncologist
  • nononcologic
  • neurooncological
  • neuro-oncology
  • biooncology
  • cardiooncology
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -os →