Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tonicity” come from?

tonicity (English) comes from English tonic, from English tone, from Middle English tone, from Latin tonus, from Ancient Greek τόνος, from Proto-Hellenic tónos, from Proto-Indo-European tónos, from Proto-Indo-European ten- — to stretch, to extend.

tonicity (English): The normal presence of tone or tension in a...

Definitions

  1. The normal presence of tone or tension in a...

Ancestry of “tonicity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtonicPertaining to tension, especially of muscles;...
2EnglishtoneA specific pitch; An interval of a major second;...
3Middle Englishtonethe one
4LatintonusThe stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;...
5Ancient Greekτόνοςrope, cord; chord; tone, note
6Proto-Hellenictónosrope, cord; tension
7Proto-Indo-Europeantónossomething stretched; chord, fiber, string
8Proto-Indo-Europeanten-to stretch, to extend
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ten- →