English
symptomatic
Symptomatic comes from Ancient Greek συμπτωματικός ‘of or pertaining to a chance, casual’, from σύμπτωμα ‘a symptom’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to fall’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to fall’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pípth₂-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*píptōreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπῑ́πτω‘to fall’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυμπίπτω‘happen, occur’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσύμπτωμαsúmptōma‘a symptom’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυμπτωματικόςsumptōmatikós‘of or pertaining to a chance, casual’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900symptomaticus
- Frenchc. 1600–presentsymptomatique
- Englishearliest quotation 1843symptomatic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to fall’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pípth₂-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*píptōreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπῑ́πτω‘to fall’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυμπίπτω‘happen, occur’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσύμπτωμαsúmptōma‘a symptom’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυμπτωματικόςsumptōmatikós‘of or pertaining to a chance, casual’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900symptomaticus
- Frenchc. 1600–presentsymptomatique
- Englishearliest quotation 1843symptomatic
Earliest quotation: 1843, Thomas Macaulay: “Symptomatic of a shallow understanding and an unamiable temper.”
Equivalent to symptom + -atic
Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to fall’
…
Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα ‘a happening, accident, symptom of disease’
Late Latin symptoma
Medieval Latin sinthoma
Middle English sinthoma
English symptom
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to fall’
pass, mile, expansion, pen, expand, repeat, petition, compete, patent, helicopter, perpetual, feather, spawn, competitor, expanse, impetus, perpetuate, perpetuity, pennant, petulant, pinion, impetuous, patina, patella, pata, penna, petulance, 83 more
Today it means
adj Showing symptoms.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- / symptomatic