episode

Where does the word "episode" come from? It comes from Greek epeisodion, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

Episode’s story begins in Greek: epeisodion meant “an incidental scene.” Literally a coming in besides, an added scene in a Greek drama. It reached English by 1700s as episode. Broadened to any single event, and later a single installment of a story. Today, episode means a single installment of a serialized story, or a notable event.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient epeisodion "an incidental scene", literally a coming in besides, an added scene in a Greek drama.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s episode "a single event, or an installment of a series", broadened to any single event, and later a single installment of a story.