Where does “physics” come from?
Physics derives from Ancient Greek φυσικός, from φύω meaning to grow or come into being, plus the suffix -ικός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-.
physics (English): The branch of science concerned with the study of...
Definitions
- The branch of science concerned with the study of...
Ancestry of “physics”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | physic | Relating to or concerning existent materials;... |
| 2 | Middle English | fysike | — |
| 3 | Old French | fisike | natural science, art of healing |
| 4 | Latin | physica | natural sciences; natural philosophy; physics;... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | φυσικός | natural, produced or caused by nature, inborn,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | φύσις | origin, birth; nature, quality, property; later,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | φύω | To bring forth, produce, generate, cause to grow;... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰuHyéti | to be becoming, to be growing, to be appearing |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 11 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |