Where does “polymorphism” come from?

Polymorphism comes from English -morphism, from English -ism, from Ancient Greek -ισμός, from Proto-Indo-European pleh₁- meaning to fill or be full, with the nominalizing suffix -mós.

polymorphism (English): The ability to assume different forms or shapes;...

Definitions

  1. The ability to assume different forms or shapes;...

Ancestry of “polymorphism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishpoly-many; polymer
2Ancient Greekπολύςmany, a lot of; neuter πολύ or πολλά as...
3Ancient Greekπόροςa means of passage, passageway, way, opening;...
4Ancient GreekπείρωI pierce, run through; I cleave through
5Proto-Hellenic*péryō—

Words derived from “polymorphism”

Every word from Proto-Hellenic *péryō →Every word from English poly- →Every word from Ancient Greek πείρω →