English
tonic
Tonic comes from Ancient Greek τονικός ‘tonic, accentual’, from τόνος ‘a cord, rope or string’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch, extend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tónos‘something stretched’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCEsame form‘rope, cord’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτόνος‘a cord, rope or string’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτονικόςtonikós‘tonic, accentual’
- Englishearliest quotation 1887tonic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch, extend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tónos‘something stretched’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCEsame form‘rope, cord’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτόνος‘a cord, rope or string’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτονικόςtonikós‘tonic, accentual’
- Englishearliest quotation 1887tonic
Earliest quotation: 1887, Medical Press and Circular: “When all signs of effusion, dulness, pain, œgophony, and…”
Equivalent to tone + -ic
Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch’
…
Proto-Hellenic *tónos ‘tension’
Ancient Greek τόνος ‘strain, tension, pitch’
Latin tonus ‘sound, tone’
Middle English ton ‘tone, sound’
English tone
The story
From Ancient Greek τονικός (tonikós), from τόνος (tónos). 17th century writers believed health to be derived from firmly stretched muscles, thus tonic; the extension of tonic medicine appeared in the late 18th century.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’
continue, content, entertainment, tight, maintenance, obtain, contain, retain, tender, tennis, continuous, sustain, continent, tenant, detention, retention, tenor, rein, pertinent, pristine, continuum, detain, abstinence, tenacity, abstain, tendon, tenacious, tenet, sustenance, countenance, pertain, tetanus, tenement, incontinence, retinue, tantra, tenable, maintainer, abstention, retentive, 68 more
through Proto-Hellenic *tónos ‘rope, cord’
through Ancient Greek τόνος ‘a cord, rope or string’
Today it means
adj Pertaining to tension, especially of the muscles.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ten- / tonic