English
topic
Topic comes from Latin topica, from Ancient Greek τοπικός ‘of commonplaces’, from τόπος ‘place’, whose earlier origin is uncertain.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτόποςtópos‘a place’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτοπικόςtopikós‘pertaining to a place’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtopica‘Topics (title of Aristotle’s work on commonplaces)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1624topic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτόποςtópos‘a place’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτοπικόςtopikós‘pertaining to a place’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtopica‘Topics (title of Aristotle’s work on commonplaces)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1624topic
Earliest quotation: 1624, Democritus Junior pseudonym; Robert Burt, The Anatomy of Melancholy: […]: “Amongst topics or outward medicines none are more precious…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek τόπος ‘a place’
Today it means
adj topical
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek τόπος / topic