Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tonus” come from?

tonus (English) comes 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.

tonus (English): tonicity; tone

Definitions

  1. tonicity; tone

Ancestry of “tonus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatintonusThe stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;...
2Ancient Greekτόνοςrope, cord; chord; tone, note
3Proto-Hellenictónosrope, cord; tension
4Proto-Indo-Europeantónossomething stretched; chord, fiber, string
5Proto-Indo-Europeanten-to stretch, to extend

Words derived from “tonus”

  • electrotonic
  • electrotonically
  • electrotonus
  • anelectrotonus
  • catelectrotonus
  • anelectrotonic
  • katelectrotonus
  • catelectrotonic
  • galvanotonus
  • vasotonus
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ten- →