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Today it means

stimulus

something that causes a reaction or growth

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Where does the word "stimulus" come from? It comes from Latin stimulus, and was adopted directly into English (1680s).

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Where does the word "stimulus" come from? It comes from Latin stimulus, and was adopted directly into English (1680s).

Stimulus’s story begins in Latin: stimulus meant “goad.” A pointed goad for driving cattle. It reached English by 1680s as stimulus. Used in medicine, then psychology and economics. Today, stimulus means something that causes a reaction or growth.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient stimulus "goad", a pointed goad for driving cattle.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1680s stimulus "something that provokes a response", used in medicine, then psychology and economics.

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