Where does “topical” come from?

Topical derives from English aldehyde via Ancient Greek τοπικός, meaning "of or pertaining to a place," from Ancient Greek τόπος, meaning "place."

topical (English): Relating to a particular topic or subject;...

Definitions

  1. Relating to a particular topic or subject;...

Ancestry of “topical”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-álOf or pertaining to. Adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to produce an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also
2EnglishaldehydeAny of a large class of reactive organic...
3GermanAldehydaldehyde
4Latinalcoholkohl, collyrium, stibium; any other powder...
5Andalusian Arabicكُحُول
6Arabicكحلantimony; kohl, stibnite; black coloring of the...
7Arabicكُحْلantimony; kohl, stibnite
8Akkadianguḫlumkohl, antimony paste

Words derived from “topical

Every word from Akkadian guḫlum
topical — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer