Where does “sterilization” come from?

Sterilization derives from English sterile combined with the English suffix -ize, from Latin sterilis meaning barren, with roots in Proto-Indo-European ster-.

sterilization (English): The process of treating something to kill or...

Definitions

  1. The process of treating something to kill or...

Ancestry of “sterilization”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsterileUnable to reproduce; Terse; lacking sentiment or...
2Middle Frenchstérile—
3Latinsterilisbarren, sterile; unprofitable, futile
4Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile

Words derived from “sterilization”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster- →Every word from Latin sterilis →Every word from Middle French stérile →