Where does “teleology” come from?
Teleology derives from Ancient Greek τέλος meaning "end" or "purpose," traced to Proto-Indo-European kʷel- meaning "to turn" or "to move."
teleology (English): The study of the purpose or design of natural...
Definitions
- The study of the purpose or design of natural...
Ancestry of “teleology”, step by step
teleology traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French téléologie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | téléologie | teleology |
| 2 | Ecclesiastical Latin | teleologia | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | τέλεος | genitive singular of τέλος; complete |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | τέλος | completion, accomplishment, fulfillment,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μέρος | part, component, region; share, portion; one's... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | *(h)méros | — |
via German Teleologie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Teleologie | teleology |