A BRIEF ETYMOLOGY OF WORDS USED
IN THE TEACHING OF PHYSICS
,OR,
DOES YOUR CHEWING GUM LOSE ITS
FLAVOR ON THE FULCRUM OVERNIGHT?
compiled by
George W. Goth
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA
ENGLISH FROM ORGINAL MEANING
abberation Latin aberrare to wander
ablate Latin auferre to wear away
absolute Latin absolutum free, seperate, completed
absorption Latin absorptus to swallow
abstract Latin abstractus drawn away
advantage French avantage forwardness
acceleration Latin accelerare to quicken
accomodate Latin accommodate to make suitable
accurate Latin accuratus performed with care
acoustic Greek akousitkos pertaining to hearing
action Latin actionem a doing or performance
activity Latin activus capable of action
adhesion Latin adhaere to stick
adiabatic Greek adiabatos not to be passed through
air Greek aera to breathe
albedo Latin albedo whiteness
algebra Arabic al-jabr literally, bone setting,
the reunion of broken parts
algorithm Arabic Al-Khowarazmi surame of Arab mathematician
whose translation of Euclid
introduced Arabic numbers
into Europe
alloy Old French alei combination, union
alternating Latin alternare to do one thing, then
another
ambient Latin ambiere to go on both sides
amorphous Greek amorphos shapelessness
amplify Latin amplificare to enlarge
amplitude Latin amplitudo breath
analog(ue) Greek analogia equality of ratio
analysis Greek analysis to loosen, break up
angle Latin angulum a corner
annular Latin anulus a ring
anode Greek anodus way up
answer Germanic andswara to affirm, swear
apogee Greek apogaion away from earth
apparatus Latin apparatus state of making ready
arc Latin arcus a bow
area Latin area vacant piece of ground in
a town
arithmetic Greek arithmetike act of counting
armature Latin armature armour (orginally used for
the metal lining of Leyden
jar)
astigmatism Greek a + stigma not + a point
astronomy Greek astronomia star arranging
atmosphere Greek atmos +spharira vapor + sphere
atom Greek a + tomos not cuttable
atto- Danish atten eighteen (the SI prefix
atto means 10-18)
attraction Latin attrahere to pull to
axiom Greek aksoma that which is self-evident
axis Latin axis axle
balance Latin bilancia two scales
ballistic Greek ballein to throw
barometer Greek baros + metron weight + measurement
beam Old English beam tree or plank
beats Old English beatan to strike repeatedly
biology Greek bios + logia life study
bias French biais oblique
binary Latin bini two together
boundary Latin butina a column used as land
marker
breadth Old English braedan broad
calculate Latin calculus a stone used on an abacus
calibrate Arabic qalib + rate mold for casting metal [?]
calorie Latin calor heat
camera Greek kamara room with arched cover
canonical Greek kanonikos according to rule
capacity Latin capacitatem state of being able to
take in
capillary Latin capillus hair
causality Latin causa that which produces an
effect
cathode Greek kathodos a going down
celestial Latin caelestis sky, heaven
center Greek kentron a peg
centi- Latin centum a hundred
centrifugual Latin centrum +fugere center + fleeing
centripetal Latin centrum + petus center + seeking
chaos Greek chaos a vast gulf
charge Latin carricare a load (as in the load
of a gun or Leyden jar)
charm Latin carmen an incantation, hence
to bewitch or enchant
chemistry Arabic al - kimia the study of the Egyptian
arts (Chemeia was theGreek
name of Egypt)
chord Greek chordon a rope
chromatic Greek chroma color
circle Greek kirkos a ring
circuit Latin circuitus going around
class Latin classis a divison (of the Roman
people)
clock Germanic glocke bell, hence a device to
strike a bell
coefficient Latin co + ex +facere to work out together
coherence Latin cohaerere to cleave together
cohesion Latin cohaerere to cleave together
coil Latin colligere to collect
collimate Latin collineare to bring ionto a straight
line
collision Latin col + laedere to hurt by striking
together
coma Greek coma hair of head
compass Latin com + passus together + step
complex Latin complexus woven together
concave Latin concava a hollow
conduction Latin conductus escort
cone Greek conus a pine cone
convection Latin convehere carry together
convention Latin conventionem an assembly, hence mutual
agreement
convex Latin convexus vaulted or arched
conservation Latin conserva to preserve
coordinate Latin co + ordinatus ordered, arranged
cosmos Greek kosmos world as ordered form
[Phythagorean]
continuum Latin continuus a continuous thing
criteria Greek kritpios means for judging
critical Greek krisis decision (taken at a
point of crisis)
crystal Greek krystallos ice
cube Greek kybos gaming die
current Latin currere to run
curve Latin curvus bent
cybernetics Greek kybenetes a pilot
cycle Greek kyklos ring or circle
cylinder Greek kylinoros a roller
damping Germanic dampfen to choke
deca- Greek deka ten
deci- Latin decimus tenth
deflect Latin de + flectere to bend down
degree Latin de + gradus down + step
density Latin densitas thickness
derivative Latin derivare to draw off (as water
from a stream)
depth Old English deop deep
detect Latin detegere to discover
dia- Greek dia- through or across
diameter Greek dia + metron across + measure
diffract Latin diffringere to break into pieces
diffuse Latin diffusus to pour out
dimension Latin dimensionem to measure out
direct Latin dirigere to set straight
dispersion Latin dispergere to scatter
dissonace Latin dissonare to sound diversely
distance Latin distantia standing apart
diverge Latin di + vergere two + incline
domain Latin dominicum estate of a lord
dose Greek dosis to give (a definite amount)
drag Germanic dragge grappel or dragging anchor
dynamics Greek dynamamus power
dyne Greek dynasthai to be powerful
echo Greek echo sound (earlier, a nymph of
that name)
eclipse Greek ekleipsis to fail to appear
effect Latin efficere to accomplish
efficiency Latin efficere to accomplish
effort Latin ex + fortiare out + strength
effuse Latin ex + fundere to pour out
elastic Greek elastikos propulsive
electric Greek elektron amber (amber acquires a
static charge when rubbed)
element Latin elementum part of a complex series
ellipse Greek elleipsis to come short (of cutting
the base of a cone)
emit Latin e + mittere to send forth
energy Greek energia agency or force
engine Latin in + gignere to begit in, to invent
enthalpy Greek enthalpien heat
entropy Greek trope turning
equilibrium Latin aequus + libra equal + balance
equipment Norse skipa to arrange a ship or man
erg Greek ergon work
error Latin errare to wander
ether Greek aithra fair weather
evaporate Latin evaporare to steam
exa- Greek exa- giant or large (the SI
prefix exa- means 1018)
examination Latin examinare to weigh accruately
experiment Latin experiri to try
explode Latin explodere to drive out by clapping
(an actor off stage)
exponent Latin exponere to put forth or publish
femto- Danish femten fifteen (the SI prefix
femto means 10-15)
fiber Latin fibre to split [?]
filament Latin filum a thread
final Latin finis end
fission Latin fissionem a splitting
fluid Latin fluere to flow
fluorescent English fluorspar derived from fluorspar,
which glows when irradiated
with light
flux Latin fluere to flow
focus Latin focus hearth or fireplace
foot Germanic fot measure of length, length of
foot
force Latin fortis strong
formula Latin frangere to break
frequency Latin frequentum crowded
friction Latin ficare to rub
fulcrum Latin fulcrum bedpost
function Latin functionem performance
furlong Old English furlang long as a furrow
fusion Latin fusionem a pouring out
galaxy Greek gala milk
gallon Old French galleta a measure of wine [?]
gas --- --- invented by van Helmont,
a Dutch chemist; modeled
on 'chaos'
gauge French gauger instrument of measurement
geology Greek geo + logia earth study
geometry Greek ge + metron earth measurement
generator Latin generatus that which begets
giga- Greek gigas giant
grade Latin gradus step
gram Greek gramma a small weight
graph Greek graphikos drawing, writing
grating Germanic kratzen scratch
gravity Latin gravis heaviness, weighty
grid French gril gridiron, grating
gyroscope Greek giros + skopein circle + view (hence,
shows rotation)
hadron Greek hadros + on thick ones
harmonic Greek armonikos skilled in music
hecto- Greek ekaton hundred
helix Greek eliks anything in spiral form
hetereodyne Latin hetereo + dyne different power
holograph Greek holo + graphos whole + writing, picture
humidity Latin (h)umidus moistness
hydraulic Greek hydraulikos pertaining to water organ
hydro- Greek hydor combining form of water
hyper- Greek hyper- over, beyond
hyperbola Greek hyper + ballein over + to throw [the slope
of exceeds that of cone]
hyperpmetropia Greek hypermetros + beyond measurement + eye
opia
hypotenuse Greek hypoteinousa stretching under
hypothesis Greek hypothesis foundation (of an arguement)
hysteresis Greek hysteresis deficiency, shortcoming
ideal Greek idea general look or form
[Platonic term]
image Latin imago a copy
impedance Latin impedire to shackle the feet
impulse Latin impellere to push against
incandescence Latin incandesere to heat to glowing
inch Latin uncia a twelfth part
incidence Latin incidere to fall upon
intercept Latin intercipere to break in on
index Latin indices the forefinger, hence
to point out
induce Latin inducere to bring in or persuade
inertia Latin inertiem lack of skill, inactivity
infinity Latin infinitas endlessness
infra- Latin infra beneath
insulate Latin insulatus made into an island
integral Latin integere untouched, entire
intensity Latin intensus tight, violent
interference Latin inter + ferire to strike among or between
interpolate Latin interpolare to furbish up, to alter
intrinsic Latin intrinsecus inwards
inverse Latin invertere to turn outside in
ion Greek ienai to go
iris Greek iris rainbow
isosceles Greek iso + skelos equal legged
isotope Greek iso + topos equal place
junction Latin junctio a joining
kilo- Greek chilioi a thousand
kinematics Greek kinemat motion
kinetic Greek kinetikos moving
laboratory Latin laborare to labor
laminar Latin lamina having leaves (as a book)
latitude Latin latitudo broad, wide
lattice Germanic lath strips of wood (in a
regular arrangement)
law Old English lagu something laid or fixed
lecture Latin legere to read
length Germanic lang long
lens Latin lens lentil bean
lepton Greek leptos + on small one
level Latin libra balance
lever Latin levare to lift
light Old English leoht that which is bright
linear Latin linea linen thread
liter Greek litra a weight, hence a measure
of capacity
liquid Latin liquidere to be liquid
logarithm Greek logos +arithmes word, ratio + number
longitude Latin longitudo long
luminescent Latin lumen light
luster Latin lustaere to illuminate
magnet Greek Magnes (lithos) (stone from) Magnesia
magnify Latin magnificare to make greater
manometer Greek manos + metron thin + measure
mass Greek maza a barley cake, hence to
knead into a lump or mass
material Latin materia building material
matrix Latin matrix womb, a place of origin
[from mater, mother]
mean Latin medianus in the middle
measure Latin mensura to measure
mechanics Greek mechanikos of machines
mega- Greek megas great
meniscus Greek meniskos crescent moon
meson Greek mesos + on middle one
meta- Greek meta- with
metal Greek metallon mine
meteor Greek meteoron something in atmosphere
meter Greek metron measure
micro- Greek mikros small
microscrope Greek mikros +skopein small + view
mile Latin millia(passuum) thousand (paces)
milli- Latin milla thousand
minute Latin minuta a small division
mirror Latin mirare to look at
model Latin modus measure, size
modulus Latin modulus standard of measurement
momentum Latin momentum a moment of time
mole Latin moles a great mass [?]
molecule Latin molecula a small mass
moon Germanic mona moon
motion Latin movere to move
motor Latin movere to move
myopia Greek myein + opia to shut eye, to squint
nano- Greek nanos dwarf
nature Latin natura the birth and course of
things
negative Latin negare to deny
node Latin nodus knot
normal Latin normal made according to
a carpenter's square
nucleus Latin nux nut or seed
number Latin numerum number
oblate Latin ob + latus lengthened out
opaque Latin opacus darkened
optics Greek optikos pertaining to eyesight
orbit Latin orbita wheel track
origin Latin origenen source, beginning
oscillate Latin oscillare to swing
ounce Latin uncia a twelfth part
para- Greek para- beside
parabola Greek parabellein to throw besides (slope
equal to cone)
paradigm Greek paradigma pattern, example
paradox Greek paradoksos contrary to expectation
parallax Greek parallaksis change, inclination of two
lines
parallel Greek parallelos beside one another
parameter Greek para + metron besides + measure
parity Latin par equal
path Germanic pad a trodden way
pendulum Latin pendulus a free, hanging body
perigee Greek perigeion close around the Earth
period Greek peridikos coming around at intervals
permeability Latin permeabilis that which can be passed
through
permittivity Latin permittere to allow, permit
permutation Latin per + mutare by means of change
perpendicular Latin perpendiculum a plumb bob
perturbation Latin per + tubare by means of disturbance
peta- Greek penta(truncated five (the SI prefix peta
to peta) means 1015)
phase Greek pasis appearance
photo- Greek phot- combining form of light
physics Greek physika pertaining to natural things
pico- Spanish pico a little bit (the SI prefix
pico means 10-12)
piezo- Greek piezein to squeeze, press
pint Germanic pinte a liquid measure
pivot Italian piva a pipe [?]
planet Greek planetes wanderer
plot Old French plat flat surface of thing
pole Latin palus end of a stake
positive Latin positus to place, lay down
potential Latin potentialus powerful
pound Latin pundus a weight
power Latin posse to be able
precess Latin pracedere to precede
precise Latin praecisus cut short
primary Latin primarius of the first rank
pressure Latin pressum to press
presbyopia Greek presbys + opia old man + eye
prism Greek prizmen to saw something
principle Latin principium origin, source
probability Latin probabilis that which may be proved
credible
process Latin processus advance, progress
prolate Latin pro + ferre to prolong
proton Greek protos first
protractor Latin protrahere to draw forth or prolong
pseudo- Greek pseodes false
pyrometer Greek pyro + metron fire + measurement
quantum Latin quantus how much
quart Latin quartus a fourth part
quasi- Latin quasi as if it were, almost
question Latin quaerere to ask, inquire
quiz American ------- derived from question
radiate Latin radiare to emit rays
radius Latin radius spoke of wheel
ratio Latin rat (from reri) to think or reason
ray Latin radius radius
reciprocal Latin reciprocus back and forth
rectify Latin rectus + ficare to make right
reflect Latin reflectere to bend back
refract Latin refrangere to break up
relativity Latin re + ferre to carry again (literally,
to attribute)
repulsion Latin repellere to drive back
research French recherche to look again
resistance Latin re + sistere to stand again (i.e. to
hinder)
resolve Latin resolvere to loosen again
resonate Latin resonare to resound
rheology Greek reos + logia to study flow
rheostat Greek reos + statos to stand in the flow
rigid Latin rigere to be stiff
robot Czech robotnik serf
rocket Latin rocca rock (reference to shape)
rotate Latin rotare to swing around
ruler Latin regula straight stick
satellite Latin satelles attendant or guard
scale Latin scala staircase
scalene Greek skalenos uneven
scatter Old English scatter to squander [?]
school Greek schole leisure, hence employment of
leisure time to study
scintillation Latin scintilla a spark
science Latin scientia knowledge
screw Germanic schruve a screw
second Latin secunda second (division of hour)
(minuta)
secondary Latin secundus following next
series Latin series row, chain
shock Old French choquer to knock against [?]
sidereal Latin sidereus constellation, stars
simulate Latin simulare to make like
sine Latin sinus curve, also hanging fold of
toga
siphon Greek siphan tube or pipe
slit Germanic slita to cut away
slope Old English aslupan slipped away
slug Norwegian sluggje heavy, slow person
solenoid Greek solen channel or pipe
solid Latin solidum solid
sound Latin sonus sound or noise
space Latin spatium orginally, interval between
to events
spectrum Latin specere to look, see
speed Germanic spowan prosper or suceed
sphere Greek sphaira a ball
spin Germanic spinnen to twist fibers together
spring Germanic springen a water source, hence a
beginning, hence to resume
natural state
stable Latin stare to stand
statics Greek statikos causing to stand
statistics Latin status state (i.e. mathematics
of state)
stochastic Greek stochos aim, guess
strain Latin stringere to draw tight
strength Germanic strang severely, strongly
stretch Germanic strechen to spread out
stress Latin strictus drawn tight
study Latin studere to be zealous
surface Latin sur + face above + form
susceptibility Latin susceptibilitas capable of receiving
suspend Latin suspendere to hang under
symmetry Greek sym + metron the same measure
synchronize Greek syn + chronous together + time
tangent Latin tangere to touch
teach Germanic taikjan to present tokens [?]
telescope Greek tele + skopein far + view
temperature Latin temperatura the result of mixing, hence
the mixing of hot and cold
qualities
tensile Latin tensilis capable of stretching
tension Latin tendere to stretch
tensor Latin tendere to stretch
tera- Greek tera monster
test Latin testa a ceramic tile used to
determine the purity of gold
theory Greek theoros to look on or contemplate
therm- Greek therme- combining form of heat
timbre Greek tympanon kettledrum
time Old English tima time (orginally, good or
prosperous time)
ton Old English tunne a cask
tone Greek tonos key or pitch
topology Greek tope + logia study of places
torque Latin torquere to twist
torsion Latin torquere to twist
trajectory Latin traicere to throw across
transducer Latin transducere to bring across
transition Latin transire to go across
translate Latin trasferre to transfer
translucent Latin translucere to shine through
transmit Latin transmittere to send through
transparent Latin transparere to be visible through
trigonometry Greek trigonon +metron triangle + measurement
turbine Latin turbinon a spinning top
turbulence Latin turbulentus restless
twin Germanic twina two together
ultra- Latin ultra beyond
uncertainity Latin incertus not determined
unit Latin unus one
universe Latin universus all taken collectively
vacuum Latin vacuus empty
vapor Latin vapor steam
vector Latin vehere to carry
velocity Latin velocitas swift, rapid
vertex Latin vertex whirlpool
vertical Latin vertex whirlpool
vibrate Latin vibrare to move rapidly to and fro
virtual Latin virtuosus virtue
viscosity Latin viscum bird lime, a sticky
substance made from boiled
mistletoe used to trap birds
volume Latin volumen from the size of a roll of
parchment
vortex Latin vertex whirlpool
wave Old English wafian to undulate
wedge Germanic wegge wedge shaped cake
weigh Germanic wegen to weigh (by lifting)
width Old English wid wide
work Germanic werk work
yard Germanic gerte rod
zone Greek zona girdle
note: All etymologies from The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.