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Where does the word "sterile" come from? It comes from Latin sterilis, passing through French before entering English (1550s).
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Where does the word "sterile" come from? It comes from Latin sterilis, passing through French before entering English (1550s).
Sterile’s story begins in Latin: sterilis meant “barren.” Related to Greek 'steira', barren cow. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as sterile. Pasteur's work in the 1860s gave 'sterilize' its medical sense. It reached English by 1550s as sterile. 'sterilized' medical tools date from the 1800s. Today, sterile means free from bacteria; unable to reproduce.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sterilis "barren", related to Greek 'steira', barren cow.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s sterile "barren", Pasteur's work in the 1860s gave 'sterilize' its medical sense.
- Stage 3 · English · 1550s sterile "barren", 'sterilized' medical tools date from the 1800s.