English
sarcoma
Sarcoma comes from Ancient Greek σάρκωμα, from σάρξ ‘flesh’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- ‘to cut’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*twerḱ-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*turḱ-sreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσάρξ‘flesh’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσάρκωμαsárkōma
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsarcoma
- Englishearliest quotation 2019same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*twerḱ-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*turḱ-sreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσάρξ‘flesh’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσάρκωμαsárkōma
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsarcoma
- Englishearliest quotation 2019same form
Earliest quotation: 2019, Bill Bryson, The Body: A Guide for Occupants: “Only about 1 per cent of cancers are found…”
Equivalent to sarc- + -oma
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- ‘to cut’
trunk, trench, sarcastic, truncation, truncate, truncheon, 16 more
through Ancient Greek σάρξ ‘flesh’
Today it means
noun A type of malignant tumor of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- / sarcoma