Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “tonus” come from?

tonus (French) 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 (French): muscle tone, tonicity, tonus; energy, strength

Definitions

  1. muscle tone, tonicity, tonus; energy, strength

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”

  • hypotonie
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ten- →