Where does “psychophysics” come from?
I need to note that the chain provided traces "physics" (from φυσικός "natural" via φύω "to grow"), but the headword is "psychophysics," which would require "psycho-" + "physics." The chain given doesn't include the "psycho-" component. Given only the chain provided, I can only accurately write about the "physics" portion. However, I'll follow the instruction to write what the chain supports: Physics comes from Ancient Greek φυσικός, itself from φύω meaning to grow, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-. (This is 22 words and doesn't fully address "psychophysics" as requested, but accurately represents only the supported chain.) If you have a chain for the complete "psychophysics," I can provide the full accurate etymology.
psychophysics (English): The branch of psychology concerned with the...
Definitions
- The branch of psychology concerned with the...
Ancestry of “psychophysics”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | physics | The branch of science concerned with the study of... |
| 2 | English | physic | Relating to or concerning existent materials;... |
| 3 | Middle English | fysike | — |
| 4 | Old French | fisike | natural science, art of healing |
| 5 | Latin | physica | natural sciences; natural philosophy; physics;... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | φυσικός | natural, produced or caused by nature, inborn,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | φύσις | origin, birth; nature, quality, property; later,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | φύω | To bring forth, produce, generate, cause to grow;... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰuHyéti | to be becoming, to be growing, to be appearing |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 12 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |