English
synapse
Synapse comes from Ancient Greek σύναψις ‘conjunction’, from συνάπτω ‘to clasp’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘one, whole’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘one, whole’root as named
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*áptōreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἅπτω‘to join’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυνάπτωsunáptō‘to clasp’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσύναψιςsúnapsis‘conjunction’
- Englishtodaysynapse
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘one, whole’root as named
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*áptōreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἅπτω‘to join’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσυνάπτωsunáptō‘to clasp’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσύναψιςsúnapsis‘conjunction’
- Englishtodaysynapse
The story
Introduced by neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘one, whole’
some, same, single, similar, simple, simply, seem, soft, sam, simulation, sincerely, singular, resemble, simultaneous, anomaly, assemble, resemblance, simulate, sincerity, assimilate, anomalous, semblance, homeopathic, homology, insincere, hyphen, simile, simulacrum, homolog, sempre, synchronise, 46 more
through Ancient Greek ἅπτω ‘to join’
Today it means
noun The junction between the terminal of a neuron and either another neuron or a muscle or gland cell, over which nerve impulses pass.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sem- / synapse