Hexis
/ˈhɛk.sɪs/noun
A settled state, habit, or stable disposition, especially in Aristotelian philosophy.
Did you know?Hexis comes from Greek philosophy, where it described a stable “having” or disposition, and it shares its root with words like *habit* and *habitual* through the ancient idea of “having” or “holding.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*seǵʰ-
“to hold, possess, keep”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἕξις (hexis)
“a holding, having; state, condition, disposition”
Classical Greek Philosophy
Greek
ἕξις (hexis)
“a settled disposition or stable state of character”
Latin
Latin
habēre
“to have, hold”
Old French
Old French
habit
“custom, accustomed state”
Modern English
English
hexis
“a stable disposition or acquired state”