Testosterone
/tɛsˈtɒstər.oʊn/noun
A steroid hormone primarily responsible for the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.
Did you know?The root 'testis' in testosterone connects to the Latin word for 'witness', revealing a link between masculinity and the act of witnessing or bearing testimony to strength.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
testis
“witness; refers to male reproductive organs as the 'witness' of virility.”
19th Century
German
Testosteron
“Coined from 'testis' and Greek 'stereos' (solid), indicating a solidifying essence of manhood.”
1935
English
testosterone
“Isolated and named as a hormone responsible for male characteristics.”
Modern English
English
testosterone
“Commonly used to refer to the hormone that plays a crucial role in male physiology.”