English
biotic
Biotic comes from Ancient Greek βιωτικός ‘of life’, and goes back to βίος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβίοςbíos‘life’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβιωτικόςbiōtikós‘of life’
- Englishearliest quotation 1961biotic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβίοςbíos‘life’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβιωτικόςbiōtikós‘of life’
- Englishearliest quotation 1961biotic
Earliest quotation: 1961, George A. Theodorson, Studies in Human Ecology: “The biotic level involves basic, nonthoughtful adjustments made in…”
Formed from bio + otic
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- ‘to see’
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws ‘ear’
Ancient Greek οὖς ‘ear’
Ancient Greek ὠτῐκός ‘of or for the ear’
English otic
Linked words
through Ancient Greek βίος ‘life’
Today it means
adj Of, pertaining to, or produced by life or living organisms.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek βίος / biotic