English
skeptical
Skeptical comes from Latin scepticus ‘a skeptic, a member of the sect of skeptics’, from Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι ‘to look at, examine’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*sképt͏̌omai‘to look at’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσκέπτομαιsképtomai‘to look at, examine’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσκεπτικόςskeptikós‘a sceptic, a member of the school of thought founded by Pyrrho of Elis’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEscepticus‘a skeptic, a member of the sect of skeptics’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009skeptical
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*sképt͏̌omai‘to look at’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσκέπτομαιsképtomai‘to look at, examine’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσκεπτικόςskeptikós‘a sceptic, a member of the school of thought founded by Pyrrho of Elis’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEscepticus‘a skeptic, a member of the sect of skeptics’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009skeptical
Earliest quotation: 2009, Xolani1990, Brown Lotto trick 'confuses' fans: “I can see why people are so skeptical [sic]…”
Formed from scepticus + -al
The story
From Latin scepticus + -al; attested earlier than skeptic.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, espionage, inconspicuous, especial, espy, 114 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
special, respect, despite, specific, species, perspective, aspect, spectrum, inspector, spectacular, spite, inspection, expectation, speculation, specify, spice, specimen, inspect, spectacle, spectator, speculate, speculative, retrospective, retrospect, conspicuous, specter, expectant, circumspect, specious, speculator, specular, 110 more
through Proto-Hellenic *sképt͏̌omai ‘to look at’
microscope, kaleidoscope, gyroscope, 85 more
through Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι ‘to look at, examine’
scope, episcopal, spectroscopic, macroscopic, endoscopic, bishopric, 94 more
Today it means
adj Having, or expressing doubt; questioning.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / skeptical