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Where does the word "microbe" come from? It comes from Greek mikros bios, passing through French before entering English (1881).
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Where does the word "microbe" come from? It comes from Greek mikros bios, passing through French before entering English (1881).
Microbe’s story begins in Greek: mikros bios meant “small life.” Greek, 'mikros', small, plus 'bios', life. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in French as microbe. Coined by Charles Sédillot in 1878. It reached English by 1881 as microbe. Pasteur's germ theory made it popular. Today, microbe means a microorganism.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient mikros bios "small life", Greek, 'mikros', small, plus 'bios', life.
- Stage 2 · French · 1800s microbe "microbe", coined by Charles Sédillot in 1878.
- Stage 3 · English · 1881 microbe "microorganism", Pasteur's germ theory made it popular.