English
formican
Formican comes from Latin formica ‘ant’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEformica‘ant’
- Englishearliest quotation 1904formican
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEformica‘ant’
- Englishearliest quotation 1904formican
Earliest quotation: 1904, Harper's New Monthly Magazine: “In fact, apian, formican, vespal, and termital government is…”
Formed from -an
Every English word from Latin formica
Today it means
adj Of or pertaining to ants.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin formica / formican