English
thermodynamic
Thermodynamic comes from French dynamique ‘in motion, dynamic’, from Ancient Greek δυναμικός ‘able, powerful’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- ‘to fit’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dewh₂-‘to fit’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*dunamaireconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδῠ́νᾰμαιdŭ́nămai
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδύναμιςdúnamis‘power, might, strength’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδυναμικόςdunamikós‘able, powerful’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdynamique‘in motion, dynamic’
- English1500–presentdynamic
- Englishearliest quotation 1949thermodynamic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dewh₂-‘to fit’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*dunamaireconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδῠ́νᾰμαιdŭ́nămai
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδύναμιςdúnamis‘power, might, strength’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδυναμικόςdunamikós‘able, powerful’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdynamique‘in motion, dynamic’
- English1500–presentdynamic
- Englishearliest quotation 1949thermodynamic
Earliest quotation: 1949, and December, Motive Power Developments in France: “The locomotive is designed to give a high and…”
A compound of thermo- + dynamic
Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer- ‘to be warm’
Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰermos
Proto-Hellenic *kʷʰermós
Ancient Greek θερμός ‘warm, hot’
English thermo-
Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- ‘to fit’
…
Ancient Greek δῠ́νᾰμαι
Ancient Greek δύναμις ‘power’
Ancient Greek δυναμικός ‘powerful’
French dynamique ‘in motion, dynamic’
English dynamic
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- ‘to fit’
down, town, beautiful, beauty, ben, tool, bonus, teen, rebel, beneficial, optimal, boo, tow, bonnie, beau, optimism, boon, dun, beneficiary, revel, bona, bello, bene, bonny, tine, taw, bauble, dynastic, bellicose, bonbon, 91 more
through Proto-Hellenic *dunamai
through Ancient Greek δύναμις ‘power, might, strength’
through English dynamic
dynamically, dynamical, hydrodynamic, psychodynamic, biodynamic, hemodynamic, 45 more
Today it means
adj Of, or relating to the conversion of heat into other forms of energy.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- / thermodynamic