Stochastic
/stəˈkæs.tɪk/noun
Relating to random probability or the process of chance.
Did you know?Stochastic comes from Greek stochastikos, a term for someone skilled at aiming or conjecturing, from stochazesthai, “to aim at a target,” which is why modern probability still carries the feel of striking an unseen mark.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steig-
“to point, prick, or stick out”
Ancient Greek
Greek
στοχάζεσθαι (stocházesthai)
“to aim at a target; to guess, conjecture”
Ancient Greek
Greek
στοχαστικός (stokhastikós)
“able to aim; skilled at conjecture”
Late Latin
Latin
stochasticus
“pertaining to conjecture or guesswork”
Modern English
English
stochastic
“random; involving probability and chance”