Where does “spasmodically” come from?
Spasmodically derives from English spasmodic, from Latin spasmodicus, from Ancient Greek σπασμώδης, from Ancient Greek σπασμός meaning convulsion, from Ancient Greek σπάω meaning to pull or tear.
spasmodically (English): In a spasmodic manner; intermittently
Definitions
- In a spasmodic manner; intermittently
Ancestry of “spasmodically”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ally | used with adjectives ending in -ic |
| 2 | English | ahistoric | Synonym of ahistorical |
| 3 | English | historic | Very important; noteworthy: having importance or... |
| 4 | Latin | historicus | historical |
| 5 | Latin | historia | history; account; story |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορία | inquiry, examination, systematic observation,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορέω | to inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἵστωρ | one who knows law and right, judge; witness; a... |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | wístōr | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | wéydtōr | one who has seen, one who knows |
| 11 | Indo-European | *weyd- | — |