plasma

Where does the word "plasma" come from? It comes from Greek plasma, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

Plasma’s story begins in Greek: plasma meant “a molded or formed substance.” Literally a molded thing, from plassein (to mold, shape). It reached English by 1700s as plasma. Adopted for the fluid part of blood, and later a state of matter. Today, plasma means the fluid part of blood, or an ionized gas, one of the four fundamental states of matter.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient plasma "a molded or formed substance", literally a molded thing, from plassein (to mold, shape).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s plasma "the fluid part of blood, or an ionized gas", adopted for the fluid part of blood, and later a state of matter.