Melatonin
/ˌmɛləˈtoʊnɪn/noun
A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles in the body.
Did you know?Melatonin is derived from 'melas', meaning 'black' in Greek, emphasizing its connection to the mysterious darkness of night and the cosmos.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“to be black, dark, or to darken”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλας (melas)
“black or dark; often associated with the night or mysterious aspects of life”
19th Century
French
mélatonine
“a term coined by scientists, combining 'melas' with 'tonus' (tension), indicating its role in regulating body rhythm”
Modern English
English
melatonin
“the hormone responsible for the regulation of sleep cycles, named for its dark, sleep-related origins”
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