Phrenic
/ˈfrɛnɪk/noun
Relating to the diaphragm or to the mind, especially in historical or medical contexts.
Did you know?In ancient Greek, phrēn could mean both the diaphragm and the mind, reflecting a time when emotion and thought were imagined as physically lodged in the chest.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷrēn-
“A root associated with the midriff or diaphragm, though the exact reconstruction is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phrḗn (φρήν), phren-
“The diaphragm; by extension, the seat of thought, feeling, and spirit.”
Late Latin
Latin
phrenicus
“Pertaining to the diaphragm.”
14th Century
English
phrenic
“Relating to the diaphragm or to the mind, used in learned and medical writing.”
Modern English
English
phrenic
“Relating to the phrenic nerve or to the diaphragm.”