English
septic
Septic comes from Ancient Greek σηπτικός ‘characterized by putridity’, from σηπτός ‘rotten, spoiled (of food)’, and ultimately from σήψ ‘putrefying sore’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσήψsḗps‘putrefying sore’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσήπω‘to make rotten or putrid’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσηπτός‘rotten, spoiled (of food)’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσηπτικόςsēptikós‘characterized by putridity’
- Englishearliest quotation 1983septic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσήψsḗps‘putrefying sore’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσήπω‘to make rotten or putrid’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσηπτός‘rotten, spoiled (of food)’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσηπτικόςsēptikós‘characterized by putridity’
- Englishearliest quotation 1983septic
Earliest quotation: 1983, /June, Ivo Giovannini: “Acid-base balance data revealed moderately abnormal metabolic balance for…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek σήπω ‘to make rotten or putrid’
Another origin of septic
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*septḿ̥‘seven’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*septəm‘seven’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEseptem‘seven’
- Englishtodayseptic
Today it means
adj Of or pertaining to sepsis.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek σήψ / septic