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Symptom

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a physical sign of illness

Where does the word "symptom" come from? It comes from Greek symptōma, adopted directly into English (1540s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
symptōma
Greek · ancient
"occurrence, chance"
Greek, from 'sympiptein', to fall together
2
Stage 2 of 2
symptom
English · 1540s
"sign of disease"
came via Late Latin 'symptoma'
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Read the full story

Symptom’s story begins in Greek: symptōma meant “occurrence, chance.” Greek, from 'sympiptein', to fall together. It reached English by 1540s as symptom. Came via Late Latin 'symptoma'. Today, symptom means a physical sign of illness.