Etymology Map
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Myopia

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means short-sightedness

Where does the word "myopia" come from? It comes from Greek myōpia, passing through Modern Latin before entering English (1690s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
myōpia
Greek · ancient
"squinting"
from 'myein', to shut, and 'ōps', eye: people who squint to see
2
Stage 2 of 3
myopia
Modern Latin · 1600s
"short-sightedness"
a medical term
3
Stage 3 of 3
myopia
English · 1690s
"short-sightedness"
used figuratively for lack of foresight from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Myopia’s story begins in Greek: myōpia meant “squinting.” From 'myein', to shut, and 'ōps', eye: people who squint to see. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Modern Latin as myopia. A medical term. It reached English by 1690s as myopia. Used figuratively for lack of foresight from the 1800s. Today, myopia means short-sightedness.