Melogenic
/ˌmɛləˈdʒɛnɪk/noun
Producing melanin or causing the formation of dark pigment.
Did you know?Its pigment sense ultimately descends from Greek mélas, “black,” the same root behind melancholy—originally the “black bile” believed to cause profound sadness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*melh₂-
“Dark or black; a reconstructed root associated with darkness and black coloration.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλας (mélas)
“Black or dark-colored.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μελαγχολία (melankholía)
““Black bile,” from mélas, “black,” plus kholḗ, “bile.””
19th Century
New Latin
melanin
“A dark pigment; coined from Greek mélas, “black,” with the chemical suffix -in.”
19th–20th Century
Scientific English
melanogenic
“Producing melanin; formed from melano- and Greek-derived -genic, “producing.””
Modern English
English
melogenic
“Producing melanin or dark pigment; a shortened or variant scientific form related to melanogenic.”
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