English
dichotomy
Dichotomy comes from Ancient Greek διχοτομία, and goes back to διχότομος ‘cut in two’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδιχότομος‘cut in two’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδιχοτομίαdikhotomía
- Englishearliest quotation 1854dichotomy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδιχότομος‘cut in two’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδιχοτομίαdikhotomía
- Englishearliest quotation 1854dichotomy
Earliest quotation: 1854, Edward Greswell, Origines Kalendariæ Italicæ: Tables of the Roman Calendar: “The Ides of Januarius indeed, the preceding month, must…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek διχότομος
Today it means
noun A separation or division into two; a distinction that results in such a division.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek διχότομος / dichotomy