ethics

Where does the word "ethics" come from? It comes from Greek ēthikos, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Ethics’s story begins in Greek: ēthikos meant “of character.” From 'ēthos', custom or character; Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics set the field. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as ethica. Used by medieval scholars for moral philosophy. It reached English by 1600s as ethics. The plural form follows 'physics' and 'politics' for a field of study. Today, ethics means moral principles governing behaviour; the study of them.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ēthikos "of character", from 'ēthos', custom or character; Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics set the field.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient ethica "moral philosophy", used by medieval scholars for moral philosophy.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s ethics "moral principles", the plural form follows 'physics' and 'politics' for a field of study.