Where does “problematic” come from?
Problematic comes from Middle French problématique, from Late Latin problematicus, from Ancient Greek προβληματικός, derived from πρόβλημα meaning "thing put forward" or "obstacle," from προβάλλω "to throw forward," combining προ- with βάλλω "to throw," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pro- and bʰuH-.
problematic (English): Posing a problem; having or suffering from...
Definitions
- Posing a problem; having or suffering from...
Ancestry of “problematic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | problématique | — |
| 2 | Latin | problēmaticus | problematic |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | προβληματικός | of or for a problem, problematic |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πρόβλημα | anything thrown forward or projecting; anything... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | προβάλλω | to throw or lay before, throw to; to put forward... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | πρό- | in front of; before |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | πρό | before; before, in front, forth, forward; before,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pró | toward, leading to |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |