Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “perturbation” come from?

Perturbation comes from Middle French perturbation, from Old French perturbacion, from Latin perturbatio, derived from per- meaning "through" and twerH- meaning "to turn" or "to twist."

perturbation (English): Agitation; the state of being perturbed; A small...

Definitions

  1. Agitation; the state of being perturbed; A small...

Ancestry of “perturbation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchperturbation—
2Old Frenchperturbacion—
3Latinperturbatioconfusion; disturbance, disorder; commotion
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “perturbation”

  • perturbational
  • photoperturbation
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →