Lacrimal
/ˈlæk.rɪ.məl/noun
Relating to tears or the glands and ducts that produce and drain them.
Did you know?The Latin word lacrima, meaning “tear,” was traditionally linked to Greek dakryma, creating a striking linguistic bridge between Latin lacrimal anatomy and Greek-derived medical terms such as dacryology.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dakru-
“Tear; the reconstructed ancient root behind several Indo-European words for weeping”
Ancient Greek
Greek
dákryma (δάκρυμα)
“A tear or what is shed from the eyes”
Classical Latin
Latin
lacrima
“A tear; an altered form traditionally connected with Greek dákryma”
Late Latin
Latin
lacrimalis
“Of or relating to tears”
Middle English
English
lachrymal
“Relating to tears; also spelled with forms preserving Latin spelling”
Modern English
English
lacrimal
“Relating to tears, tear production, or tear drainage”
Explore more surprising origins