English
hyperbolic
Hyperbolic comes from Ancient Greek ὑπερβολικός ‘hyperbolic, exaggerated’, from ὑπερβολή ‘excess, extremity’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- ‘to hit by throwing’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷelH-‘to hit by throwing’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷl̥-ne-h₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*gʷəlnōreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβάλλω‘to throw, cast, hurl’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπερβάλλωhuperbállō‘to go beyond, exceed’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπερβολή‘excess, extremity’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπερβολικόςhuperbolikós‘hyperbolic, exaggerated’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhyperbolic(us)
- Englishearliest quotation 2005hyperbolic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷelH-‘to hit by throwing’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷl̥-ne-h₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*gʷəlnōreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβάλλω‘to throw, cast, hurl’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπερβάλλωhuperbállō‘to go beyond, exceed’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπερβολή‘excess, extremity’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑπερβολικόςhuperbolikós‘hyperbolic, exaggerated’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhyperbolic(us)
- Englishearliest quotation 2005hyperbolic
Earliest quotation: 2005, Paul Churchland, Chimerical colors: some phenomenological predictions from co: “Using the techniques already explored, we can contrive to…”
first attested First attested in the 15th century (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in the 15th century.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- ‘to hit by throwing’
ball, quail, quill, quell, obelisk, pul, 65 more
through Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō
symbolic, ballistic, ballista, symbolist, 36 more
through Ancient Greek βάλλω ‘to throw, cast, hurl’
problem, devil, symbol, emblem, parable, metabolic, embolism, parabolic, anabolic, metabolize, 35 more
Today it means
adj Of or relating to hyperbole.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- / hyperbolic