Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “phenomenal” come from?

Phenomenal derives from English phenomenon, from Ancient Greek φαινόμενον, from φαίνω meaning "to show," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- meaning "to shine."

phenomenal (English): Very remarkable; highly extraordinary; amazing;...

Definitions

  1. Very remarkable; highly extraordinary; amazing;...

Ancestry of “phenomenal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishphenomenonA thing or being, event or process, perceptible...
2Late Latinphaenomenonappearance; phenomenon
3Ancient Greekφαινόμενονmasculine accusative singular of φαινόμενος ,...
4Ancient GreekφαίνωI cause to appear, bring to light; I show,...
5English-typeimpressed form; stamp; print; typical form; Used...
6Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
7Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
8Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
9Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

Words derived from “phenomenal”

  • phenomenally
  • epiphenomenal
  • phenomenalism
  • phenomenality
  • epiphenomenalism
  • phenomenalist
  • phenomenalistic
  • epiphenomenalist
  • epiphenomenally
  • superphenomenal
  • epiphenomenalistic
  • macrophenomenal
  • microphenomenal
  • epiphenomenalize
  • epiphenomenalistically
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- →