Cytotoxic
/ˌsaɪ.toʊˈtɒk.sɪk/noun
Toxic to cells, especially by causing cellular damage or death.
Did you know?The toxic part comes from Ancient Greek tóxon, meaning “bow,” because toxikón originally meant poison used on arrows.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*keu-
“To swell, curve, or form a hollow space”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kytos
“A hollow vessel, container, or cavity; later, a cell”
Ancient Greek
Greek
tóxon
“A bow; the source of terms connected with arrow poison”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
cyto- + toxicus
“Combining “cell” with “poisonous” in scientific terminology”
20th Century
English
cytotoxic
“Harmful or lethal to cells, especially in medical and biological contexts”