Where does “sci-fi” come from?

sci-fi (Hungarian) comes from English sci-fi, from English science fiction, from English fiction, from Middle English ficcioun, from Old French ficcion, from Latin fictio, from Latin -tiō, from Latin dissertātiō — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

sci-fi (Hungarian): sci-fi fiction in which advanced technology and/or science is a key element; also, a single work in this genre

Definitions

  1. sci-fi fiction in which advanced technology and/or science is a key element; also, a single work in this genre

Ancestry of “sci-fi”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishsci-fiClipping of science fiction
2Englishscience fictionFiction in which advanced technology or science...
3EnglishfictionLiterary type using invented or imaginative...
4Middle EnglishficciounAn invention or fabrication
5Old Frenchficciondissimulation, ruse, invention
6Latinfictiofashioning, forming, formation; fiction
7Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
8Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
9Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
10Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
11Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
12Latincalceusshoe
13Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
14Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξEvery word from Latin -tiōEvery word from Latin dis-