Where does “miasme” come from?
miasme (French) comes from Ancient Greek μίασμα, from Ancient Greek μιαίνω, from Proto-Indo-European smei- — to smear.
miasme (French): miasma
Ancestry of “miasme”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | μίασμα | pollution, defilement; shameful action, crime |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | μιαίνω | I paint; I stain, defile, pollute |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | smei- | to smear |