ethic

Where does the word "ethic" come from? It comes from Greek ethikos, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Ethic’s story begins in Greek: ethikos meant “relating to character or custom.” Relating to character or custom, from ethos (character). It reached English by 1300s as ethic. Settled as the word for moral principles. Today, ethic means a set of moral principles governing behavior.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ethikos "relating to character or custom", relating to character or custom, from ethos (character).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s ethic "a set of moral principles", settled as the word for moral principles.