Where does “theory” come from?

Theory comes from Middle French théorie, from Late Latin theoria, from Ancient Greek θεωρία, derived from the verb θεωρέω, itself from θεωρός, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European wer-.

theory (English): A description of an event or system that is...

Definitions

  1. A description of an event or system that is...

Ancestry of “theory”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchthéorie—
2Late Latintheoriacontemplation, speculation; speculation, theory
3Ancient Greekθεωρόςspectator; envoy sent to consult an oracle
4Ancient Greekθέαview, sight
5Proto-Hellenic*tʰáwā—

Words derived from “theory”

Every word from Proto-Hellenic *tʰáwā →Every word from Ancient Greek θέα →Every word from Ancient Greek θεωρός →