Where does “organic” come from?
Organic comes from Middle English organik, from Old French organique, from Latin organicus, from Ancient Greek ὀργανικός meaning of or pertaining to an organ or instrument.
organic (English): Pertaining to or derived from living organisms;...
Definitions
- Pertaining to or derived from living organisms;...
Ancestry of “organic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | organic | Resembling or functioning like an organ; composed... |
| 2 | Old French | organique | — |
| 3 | Latin | organicus | musician, instrumentalist; instrumental; organic |
| 4 | Latin | -icus | belonging to; derived from; of or pertaining to;... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -ικός | of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -κός | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -ḱos | -y, -ic |