Etymology Map
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Kinetic

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means relating to motion

Where does the word "kinetic" come from? It comes from Greek kinētikos, adopted directly into English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
kinētikos
Greek · ancient
"moving"
Greek, from 'kinein', to move, the root of the much later coinage 'cinema'
2
Stage 2 of 2
kinetic
English · 1850s
"of motion"
'kinetic energy' dates from the 1870s
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Read the full story

Kinetic’s story begins in Greek: kinētikos meant “moving.” Greek, from 'kinein', to move, the root of the much later coinage 'cinema'. It reached English by 1850s as kinetic. 'kinetic energy' dates from the 1870s. Today, kinetic means relating to motion.