English
epiphenomenal
From epi- + phenomenal.
A compound of epi- + phenomenon + -al + phenomenal
Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine, glow light’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂nyéti
Proto-Hellenic *pʰáňňō ‘to appear’
Ancient Greek φαίνω ‘to cause to appear’
Ancient Greek φαινόμενον
Late Latin phaenomenon
English phenomenon
Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine, glow light’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂nyéti
Proto-Hellenic *pʰáňňō ‘to appear’
Ancient Greek φαίνω ‘to cause to appear’
Ancient Greek φαινόμενον
French phénomène ‘phenomenon’
French phénoménal ‘phenomenal’
English phenomenal
Today it means
adj Being of secondary consequence to a causal chain of processes, but playing no causal role in the process of interest.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / epiphenomenal