Category: Etymology
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The term “hormesis” derives from Greek hĂłrmÄ“sis for “rapid motion, eagerness”, itself from ancient Greek hormáein to excite. The same Greek root provides the word hormone.
Hormesis is a two-phased dose-response relationship to an environmental agent whereby low-dose amounts have a beneficial effect and high-dose amounts are either inhibitory to function or toxic. Within the hormetic zone, the biological response to low-dose amounts of some stressors is generally favorable. An example is the breathing of oxygen, which is required in low amounts (in air) via respiration in living animals, but can…
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Lagniappe, “a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get”
A lagniappe is “a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase” (such as a 13th doughnut on purchase of a dozen), or more broadly, “something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure.” It can be used more generally as meaning any extra or unexpected benefit. The word…
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In classical Greek mythology, Syrinx was a nymph and a follower of Artemis, known for her chastity
Mythology Story Syrinx was a beautiful wood nymph who had many times attracted the attention of satyrs, and fled their advances in turn. She worshipped Artemis, the goddess of wilderness, and had like her vowed to remain a virgin for all time. Pursued by the amorous god Pan, she ran to a river’s edge and asked for…
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The word “paracetmol”
The word “paracetmol” is a shortened form of para-acetyl-amino-phenol, and was coined, manufactured and sold by Frederick Stearns & Co in 1956.
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The word “acetaminophen”
The word “acetaminophen” is a shortened form of N-acetyl aminophenol, and was coined and first marketed by McNeil Laboratories in 1955.
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Pharmacy (etymology)
pharmacy (n.) late 14c., farmacie, “a medicine that rids the body of an excess of humors (except blood);” also “treatment with medicine; theory of treatment with medicine,” from Old French farmacie “a purgative” (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin pharmacia, from Greek pharmakeia “a healing or harmful medicine, a healing or poisonous herb; a drug, poisonous potion; magic (potion), dye, raw material…
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Toxin (etymology)
toxin (n.) “organic poison,” especially one produced by bacteria in an animal body, 1886, from toxic + -in (2). toxic (adj.) 1660s, from French toxique and directly from Late Latin toxicus “poisoned,” from Latin toxicum “poison,” from Greek toxikon (pharmakon) “(poison) for use on arrows,” from toxikon, neuter of toxikos “pertaining to arrows or archery,” and thus to a bow, from toxon “bow,” probably from a Scythian word that also was borrowed into Latin…
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Sugar-coat (etymology)
also sugarcoat, 1870, originally of medicine; figuratively, “make more palatable,” from 1910; from sugar (n.) + coat (v.). Related: Sugarcoated; sugarcoating. sugar (n.) late 13c., sugre, from Old French sucre “sugar” (12c.), from Medieval Latin succarum, from Arabic sukkar, from Persian shakar, from Sanskrit sharkara “ground or candied sugar,” originally “grit, gravel” (cognate with Greek kroke “pebble”). The Arabic word also was borrowed in Italian (zucchero), Spanish (azucar, with the Arabic article), and…
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Poison (etymology)
poison (n.) c. 1200, poisoun, “a deadly potion or substance,” also figuratively, “spiritually corrupting ideas; evil intentions,” from Old French poison, puison (12c., Modern French poison) “a drink,” especially a medical drink, later “a (magic) potion, poisonous drink” (14c.), from Latin potionem (nominative potio) “a drinking, a drink,” also “poisonous drink” (Cicero), from potare “to drink” (from PIE root *po(i)- “to drink”). A doublet of potion. For similar form…
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Virus (etymology)
virus (n.) late 14c., “poisonous substance” (a sense now archaic), from Latin virus “poison, sap of plants, slimy liquid, a potent juice,” from Proto-Italic *weis-o-(s-) “poison,” which is probably from a PIE root *ueis-, perhaps originally meaning “to melt away, to flow,” used of foul or malodorous fluids, but with specialization in some languages to “poisonous fluid” (source also of Sanskrit visam “venom, poison,” visah “poisonous;”…
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Cochineal Etymology
cochineal (n.) “brilliant crimson dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of a species of insect,” 1580s, from French cochenille (16c.), probably from Spanish cochinilla, from a diminutive of Latin coccinus (adj.) “scarlet-colored,” from coccum “berry (actually an insect) yielding scarlet dye” (see kermes). But some sources identify the Spanish source word as cochinilla “wood louse” (a diminutive form related to French cochon “pig”). The insect (Coccus Cacti) was…
