Septic
/ˈsɛp.tɪk/noun
Relating to infection, decay, or the presence of harmful bacteria.
Did you know?Its Greek ancestor, sēptikos, is tied to sēpein, “to make rotten,” and that same ancient decay-root also helped shape words like septicemia, which literally names the poison of rotting in the blood.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sep-
“to rot, decay”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sēpein
“to make rotten, to putrefy”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sēptikos
“causing putrefaction; septic”
Late Latin
Latin
septicus
“putrefying, causing decay”
14th Century
English
septic
“causing putrefaction; later, relating to infection”
Explore more surprising origins