Atopic
/eɪˈtɒpɪk/noun
Relating to atopy, especially a hereditary tendency to develop allergic conditions such as eczema, asthma, or hay fever.
Did you know?Atopic comes from Greek a- (“not, without”) + topos (“place”), the same deep root behind “topography,” so this allergy word began as a philosophical idea of being “out of place.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
átopos
“out of place, strange, extraordinary”
Late Greek
Greek
atopikós
“pertaining to what is out of place or unusual”
19th Century
English
atopic
“medical term for conditions not fitting a typical location or pattern”
Modern English
English
atopic
“relating to a hereditary tendency toward allergic disease”
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