English
atomus
Atomus comes from Latin atomus ‘an atom, particle incapable of being divided’, from Ancient Greek τέμνω ‘to cut’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *temh₁-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*temh₁-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tm̥-né-h₁-tireconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέμνωtémnō‘to cut’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἄτομοςátomos‘indivisible, not capable of being cut/divided into smaller pieces’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEatomus‘an atom, particle incapable of being divided’
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*temh₁-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tm̥-né-h₁-tireconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέμνωtémnō‘to cut’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἄτομοςátomos‘indivisible, not capable of being cut/divided into smaller pieces’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEatomus‘an atom, particle incapable of being divided’
- Englishtodaysame form
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- ‘to cut’
contempt, templar, tempestuous, 35 more
through Ancient Greek τέμνω ‘to cut’
Today it means
noun Synonym of atom.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- / atomus