Etymology Map
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Toxic

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means poisonous; harmful

Where does the word "toxic" come from? It comes from Greek toxikon, passing through Latin before entering English (1660s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
toxikon
Greek · ancient
"poison for arrows"
Greek, from 'toxon', bow
2
Stage 2 of 3
toxicus
Latin · ancient
"poisonous"
Romans dropped the arrow sense and kept 'poison'
3
Stage 3 of 3
toxic
English · 1660s
"poisonous"
'toxic relationship' dates from the 2000s
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Read the full story

Toxic’s story begins in Greek: toxikon meant “poison for arrows.” Greek, from 'toxon', bow. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as toxicus. Romans dropped the arrow sense and kept 'poison'. It reached English by 1660s as toxic. 'toxic relationship' dates from the 2000s. Today, toxic means poisonous; harmful.