English
asthma
Asthma comes from Medieval Latin asthma ‘panting, laboured breathing’, and goes back to Ancient Greek ἆσθμα.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἆσθμαâsthma‘laborious breathing, asthma’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500asthma‘panting, laboured breathing’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500asma
- Englishearliest quotation 1842asthma
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἆσθμαâsthma‘laborious breathing, asthma’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500asthma‘panting, laboured breathing’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500asma
- Englishearliest quotation 1842asthma
Earliest quotation: 1842, anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizab, Keeping up Appearances. […]: “...but rheumatism is a vulgar complaint, and would sink…”
The story
The spelling was changed to add -th- in the 16th century to match the Greek etymological roots.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- ‘to breathe’
and, animal, anime, unanimous, inhale, animosity, animate, animator, animus, anemone, anima, exhalation, prana, onde, 19 more
Today it means
noun A long-term respiratory condition, in which the airways may unexpectedly and suddenly narrow, often in response to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἆσθμα / asthma