Embryonic
/ˌɛm.briˈɒn.ɪk/noun
Relating to an embryo or to the earliest, undeveloped stage of something.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek embryon, originally meaning a developing young creature, and its deepest root is tied to the idea of swelling or budding growth rather than anything mystical.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰerǵʰ-
“to swell, rise, or bud”
Ancient Greek
GRK
ἔμβρυον (embryon)
“an unborn young; a growing creature within the womb”
Late Latin
LAT
embryo
“an embryo, especially in medical and scholarly writing”
Late Middle English
ENG
embryon
“an undeveloped offspring or beginning form”
17th Century
ENG
embryonic
“in an early stage of development”
Modern English
ENG
embryonic
“relating to an embryo or a very early stage”