Stimuli
/ˈstɪm.jʊ.laɪ/noun
Plural of stimulus: something that causes a reaction or change.
Did you know?Stimulus comes from Latin *stimulus*, meaning a sharp goad or prod, and the same root gave English *sting* and *extinct*—words tied to piercing, burning force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steig-
“to prick, pierce, or stick”
Latin
Latin
stimulus
“a goad, spur, or sharp prod”
Late Latin
Latin
stimulus
“a spur to action; an incitement”
17th Century
English
stimulus
“something that rouses or incites”
Modern English
English
stimuli
“the plural form of stimulus”