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Where does the word "quantum" come from? It comes from Latin quantum, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
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Where does the word "quantum" come from? It comes from Latin quantum, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
Quantum’s story begins in Latin: quantum meant “how much, how great.” Literally how much, how great, a neuter form of quantus. It reached English by 1900s as quantum. Latin 'how much'; Max Planck introduced energy quanta in 1900. Today, quantum means the minimum discrete amount of a physical quantity, especially energy.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient quantum "how much, how great", literally how much, how great, a neuter form of quantus.
- Stage 2 · English · 1900s quantum "a discrete unit of energy or physical quantity", Latin 'how much'; Max Planck introduced energy quanta in 1900.