English
phenomenon
Phenomenon comes from Late Latin phaenomenon ‘appearance’, from Ancient Greek φαίνω ‘I show’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine, glow light’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to shine, glow light’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰh₂nyétireconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰáňňō‘to appear’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφαίνωphaínō‘I show’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφαινόμενονphainómenon‘thing appearing to view’neuter present middle participle of φαίνω
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEphaenomenon‘appearance’
- Englishearliest quotation 1662phenomenon
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to shine, glow light’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰh₂nyétireconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰáňňō‘to appear’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφαίνωphaínō‘I show’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφαινόμενονphainómenon‘thing appearing to view’neuter present middle participle of φαίνω
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEphaenomenon‘appearance’
- Englishearliest quotation 1662phenomenon
Earliest quotation: 1662, Thomas Salusbury: “I verily believe that in the Moon there are…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine, glow light’
focus, professor, phone, famous, fuel, favor, favourite, ban, ben, fate, fame, fatal, bee, fairy, fabulous, photographer, infant, profession, abandon, confession, beck, confess, beacon, symphony, eff, fab, fay, bane, boon, fable, foyer, banish, buoy, nefarious, profess, banal, prophetic, infamy, bene, beek, 120 more
through Proto-Hellenic *pʰáňňō ‘to appear’
through Ancient Greek φαίνω ‘I show’
fantasy, fancy, emphasis, phantom, epiphany, fantasia, tryptophan, phantasm, 45 more
Today it means
noun A thing or being, event or process, perceptible through senses; or a fact or occurrence thereof.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- / phenomenon