Where does “phototherapy” come from?

Phototherapy comes from English therapy and Latin therapia, from Ancient Greek φῶς meaning light and θεραπεύω meaning to serve or attend, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-.

phototherapy (English): The use of light to treat disorders of the skin,...

Definitions

  1. The use of light to treat disorders of the skin,...

Ancestry of “phototherapy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishphoto-light, electromagnetic radiation; photography
2Ancient Greekφωτο-—
3Ancient GreekφῶςAttic form of φᾰ́ος
4Proto-Hellenicpʰáos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéh₂os—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—

Words derived from “phototherapy”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- →Every word from Ancient Greek φωτο- →