Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pathognomonic” come from?

Pathognomonic comes from Ancient Greek παθογνωμονικός, from πάθος meaning suffering or disease combined with γιγνώσκω meaning to know, plus the suffix -ικός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -kos.

pathognomonic (English): specifically characteristic or indicative of a...

Definitions

  1. specifically characteristic or indicative of a...

Ancestry of “pathognomonic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekπαθογνωμονικόςindicating a particular disease
2Ancient Greekγνωμονικόςjudging by rule; fit to judge of or skilled in a...
3Ancient Greekγνώμωνinterpreter, discerner; carpenter's square;...
4Ancient GreekγιγνώσκωI am aware of; I perceive, observe, know, learn;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵn̥h₃sḱétito recognise
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵneh₃-to know
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵneh₃- →