English
chaotic
Chaotic comes from Late Latin chaoticus ‘of or pertaining to the primordial state of…’, and goes back to Ancient Greek χάος ‘chaos’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχάοςkháos‘chaos’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEchaos
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEchaoticus‘of or pertaining to the primordial state of the universe’
- Englishearliest quotation 1702chaotic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχάοςkháos‘chaos’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEchaos
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEchaoticus‘of or pertaining to the primordial state of the universe’
- Englishearliest quotation 1702chaotic
Earliest quotation: 1702, –February, Studies: “Treating of the Expanſum, or Inferiour Heav'n, he ſays…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₂- ‘to yawn, gape’
goal, gap, gum, gill, hiatus, gab, gape, 10 more
through Ancient Greek χάος ‘chaos’
Today it means
adj Filled with chaos.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek χάος / chaotic