Where does “paroxism” come from?
paroxism (Middle English) comes from Middle French paroxisme, from Old French peroxime, from Ecclesiastical Latin paroxismus, from Ancient Greek πᾰροξῠσμός, from Ancient Greek πᾰροξῡ́νω, from Ancient Greek πᾰρᾰ-, from Ancient Greek παρά, from Latin verēdus — horse.
Ancestry of “paroxism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | paroxisme | — |
| 2 | Old French | peroxime | — |
| 3 | Ecclesiastical Latin | paroxismus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πᾰροξῠσμός | irritation, exasperation |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πᾰροξῡ́νω | to urge, prick, spur on, stimulate |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | πᾰρᾰ- | near; next to; by, near |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | παρά | |
| 8 | Latin | verēdus | A fast or light breed of horse; courier's horse; hunter |
| 9 | Gaulish | werēdos | horse |
| 10 | Proto-Celtic | *uɸoreidos | horse |