Paramedic
/ˌpærəˈmɛdɪk/noun
A healthcare professional who provides emergency medical assistance.
Did you know?The prefix 'para-' means 'beside' or 'beyond,' suggesting paramedics exist on the threshold between life and death, acting as guardians in emergencies.
Etymological Timeline
Greek
Greek
παρά (para)
“beside, alongside”
Greek
Greek
ἰατρός (iatros)
“physician, healer”
Late Latin
Latin
paramedicus
“one who assists a physician”
19th Century
English
paramedic
“a person trained to provide emergency medical care”