Uterine
/ˈjuːtərɪn/noun
Relating to the uterus or womb.
Did you know?Uterine descends from Latin uterinus, meaning “of the womb,” from uterus, an old Latin word for the womb that became the standard anatomical term in learned medicine.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*udero-
“The ancient root meaning “belly” or “womb,” the source of several body-part words in Indo-European languages.”
Latin
Latin
uterus
“The womb; the uterus, especially in anatomical and medical usage.”
Latin
Latin
uterinus
“Of the womb; relating to the uterus or to siblings sharing the same mother.”
14th–15th Century
Old French / Middle English
uterin
“A learned borrowing used in medical and scholarly contexts.”
Modern English
English
uterine
“Relating to the uterus or womb.”
Explore more surprising origins