Where does “septic” come from?
Septic comes from Latin septem, derived from Ancient Greek σηπτός, from the verb σήπειν meaning to rot or decay, ultimately from Ancient Greek σήψ.
septic (English): Of or pertaining to sepsis; Causing sepsis or...
Definitions
- Of or pertaining to sepsis; Causing sepsis or...
Ancestry of “septic”, step by step
septic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Ancient Greek σηπτικός
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | σηπτικός | putrefactive, septic |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | σηπτός | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | σήπω | I make rotten or putrid; I rot, moulder |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | σήψ | putrefying sore; a kind of lizard, also a kind of... |
via English septic tank
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | septic tank | A small-scale watertight treatment system for... |