Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “oxytocin” come from?

Oxytocin derives from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxys, "sharp") and the Proto-Indo-European root h₂eḱ-, which also means "sharp," with the suffix -tocin added in modern scientific nomenclature.

oxytocin (English): A hormone that stimulates contractions during...

Definitions

  1. A hormone that stimulates contractions during...

Ancestry of “oxytocin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoxytocicServing to promote uterine contractions, thus...
2Ancient Greekὠκυτόκος—

Words derived from “oxytocin”

  • oxytocinergic
  • antioxytocin
Every word from Ancient Greek ὠκυτόκος →