Where does “probiotic” come from?
Probiotic derives from English pro- combined with biotic, which comes from Ancient Greek βιωτικός, from Ancient Greek βίος meaning "life," ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots including bʰuH-, gʷeih₃w-, per-, and pr̥tós.
probiotic (English): A food or dietary supplement, such as a yogurt,...
Definitions
- A food or dietary supplement, such as a yogurt,...
Ancestry of “probiotic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | biotic | Of, pertaining to, or produced by life or living... |
| 2 | French | biotique | biotic |
| 3 | Late Latin | bioticus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | βιωτικός | concerning or relating to life; of life |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βίος | life |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Γένεσις | — |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | génetis | origin, source |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵénh₁tis | birth, production |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵenh₁- | to produce, to beget, to give birth |