Where does “supersymmetry” come from?
Supersymmetry is an English formation from Latin super- and Ancient Greek συμμετρία (symmetry, from μέτρον meaning measure), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots sem- (together) and -trom (instrument of measuring).
supersymmetry (English): A theory that attempts to unify the fundamental...
Definitions
- A theory that attempts to unify the fundamental...
Ancestry of “supersymmetry”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | symmetry | Exact correspondence on either side of a dividing... |
| 2 | Latin | symmetria | symmetry, proportion |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | συμμετρία | commensurability; symmetry, due proportion; a... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | σύμμετρος | symmetrical |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μέτρον | something used to measure: measure, rule, weight;... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -τρον | Forms instrument nouns |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | -tron | Forms instrument nouns from verb stems |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -trom | Forms nouns denoting a tool or instrument |