Symptom
/ˈsɪmp.təm/noun
A sign or indication of a condition, especially a disease.
Did you know?In Greek, the word was used for an ‘occurrence’ or ‘misfortune’ that happened by chance, and only later became a medical term for the outward sign of an inner disorder.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
symptōma
“an accident, mishap, or chance occurrence; later, a sign or symptom”
Late Greek
Greek
symptōma
“a medical sign or symptom”
Late Latin
Latin
symptōma
“a symptom, sign of disease”
14th Century
English
symptome
“a sign or indication of disease”
Modern English
English
symptom
“a sign or indication of a condition, especially a disease”
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