Plasticity
/plæˈstɪsɪti/noun
The quality of being easily shaped or adapted.
Did you know?Plasticity ultimately comes from Greek plássein, meaning “to mold or shape,” the same ancient root behind words tied to crafting and making forms, not modern plastic.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰel-
“to blow, swell, or grow”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πλάσσειν (plássein)
“to mold, shape, or form”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πλαστός (plastós)
“molded, formed”
Late Latin
Latin
plasticus
“able to be molded”
17th Century
English
plastic
“capable of being shaped or formed”
19th Century
English
plasticity
“capacity for being molded or altered”
Explore more surprising origins