Symptoms
/ˈsɪmp.təmz/noun
Signs or indications of a disease, disorder, or underlying condition.
Did you know?Ancient Greek physicians used symptōma for an occurrence or mishap before it became a medical term for a sign accompanying illness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peth-
“To rush, fly, or fall—an ancient root associated with motion through the air or downward movement.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sympiptein
“To fall together or happen to someone; formed from syn-, “together,” and piptein, “to fall.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
symptōma
“An occurrence, event, or mishap—literally something that befalls a person.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
symptōma
“A symptom or sign accompanying an illness, borrowed from Greek medical vocabulary.”
16th Century
English
symptome
“A sign or indication of disease.”
Modern English
English
symptoms
“Observable signs indicating a disease, disorder, or condition.”