Phenomenal
/fəˈnɒm.ɪ.nəl/noun
Remarkable or extraordinary; also relating to a phenomenon.
Did you know?Phenomenal comes from Greek phainómenon, “thing appearing,” from phainein, “to bring to light, make appear,” which is the same root behind words tied to shining and revealing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂-
“to shine, appear, or become visible”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phaínein (φαίνειν)
“to bring to light, show, make appear”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phainómenon (φαινόμενον)
“a thing appearing; an observable phenomenon”
Late Latin
Latin
phænomenon
“an appearance or observable event”
16th–17th Century
English
phenomenal
“relating to phenomena; extraordinary in appearance or effect”
Modern English
English
phenomenal
“remarkable, outstanding, or relating to a phenomenon”
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