English
cauterize
Cauterize comes from Late Latin cauterizō ‘to burn with a hot iron’, and goes back to Ancient Greek καυτηριάζω ‘to brand’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκαυτηριάζωkautēriázō‘to brand’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcauterizō‘to burn with a hot iron’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600cauteriser
- Englishearliest quotation 1732cauterize
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκαυτηριάζωkautēriázō‘to brand’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcauterizō‘to burn with a hot iron’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600cauteriser
- Englishearliest quotation 1732cauterize
Earliest quotation: 1732, George Smith, Institutiones Chirurgicæ: or: “[…] Lanfrank takes Notice of Tract. 3. Doct. 3.…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek καυτηριάζω
Today it means
verb To burn and hence seal open tissue using a heated article or caustic agent so as to stop bleeding or minimise the risk of infection.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek καυτηριάζω / cauterize