Etymology dictionary

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n.) — ancestor (n.)

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n.)

sclerosis of the spinal cord, causing atrophy of the muscles, 1874, in translations from French. Amyotropic is compounded from Greek elements: a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + combining form of mys "muscle" (see muscle (n.)) + trophikos "feeding," from trophe "nourishment" (see -trophy). Also ALS, and often known in U.S. as Lou Gehrig's disease, after the New York Yankees baseball player who was diagnosed with it in 1939 and died of it in 1941.

an

indefinite article before words beginning with vowels, 12c., from Old English an (with a long vowel) "one; lone," also used as a prefix meaning "single, lone" (as in anboren "only-begotten," anhorn "unicorn," anspræce "speaking as one"). See one for the divergence of that word from this. Also see a, of which this is the older, fuller form.

In other European languages, identity between the indefinite article and the word for "one" remains explicit (French un, German ein, etc.). Old English got by without indefinite articles: He was a good man in Old English was he wæs god man.

In texts of Shakespeare, etc., an as a word introducing a clause stating a condition or comparison conjunction is a reduced form of and in this now-archaic sense "if" (a usage first attested late 12c.), especially before it.

an- (1)

privative prefix, from Greek an-, "not, without" (from PIE root *ne- "not"). The Greek prefix is a fuller form of the one represented in English by a- (3).

-ane

word-forming element in chemical use, indicating a chain of carbon atoms with no double bonds, proposed 1866 by German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann (1818-1892) to go with -ene, -ine (2), -one.

*ane-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to breathe."

It forms all or part of: anemo-; anemometer; anemone; anima; animadversion; animadvert; animal; animalcule; animalistic; animate; animation; animatronic; anime; animism; animosity; animus; Enid; equanimity; longanimity; magnanimous; pusillanimous; unanimous.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit aniti "breathes;" Greek anemos "wind;" Latin animus "rational soul, mind, life, mental powers, consciousness, sensibility; courage, desire," anima "living being, soul, mind, disposition, passion, courage, anger, spirit, feeling;" Old Irish anal, Welsh anadl "breath," Old Irish animm "soul;" Gothic uzanan "to exhale," Old Norse anda "to breathe," Old English eðian "to breathe;" Old Church Slavonic vonja "smell, breath;" Armenian anjn "soul."

-an

word-forming element meaning "pertaining to," from Latin -anus, adjective suffix, in some cases via French -ain, -en. From PIE *-no-.

an- (2)

a later form of Latin ad "to" before -n- (see ad-), as in annex, announce, annihilate.

-ana

or ana, word-forming element denoting "collection of sayings, gossip, etc. connected with a person or place," early 18c., originally the neuter plural ending of Latin adjectives ending in -anus "pertaining to," from PIE adjectival suffix *-no-.

ana-

before vowels an-, word-forming element meaning: 1. "upward, up in place or time," 2. "back, backward, against," 3. "again, anew," from Greek ana (prep.) "up, on, upon; up to, toward; throughout; back, backwards; again, anew," from an extended form of PIE root *an- (1) "on, upon, above" (see on, which is the English cognate). In old medical prescriptions, ana by itself meant "an equal quantity of each."

Anabaptism (n.)

name of a Christian doctrine (see Anabaptist), 1570s, from Late Latin anabaptismus, literally "a second baptism," from Ecclesiastical Greek anabaptismos, from ana "again, anew" (see ana-) + baptismos "baptism" (see baptism).

Anabaptist (n.)

class of Christians who regard infant baptism as invalid, 1530s, literally "one who baptizes over again," from Modern Latin anabaptista, from Late Latin anabaptismus "second baptism" (used in literal sense from 4c.), from Ecclesiastical Greek anabaptismos, from ana "again, anew" (see ana-) + baptismos "baptism" (see baptism).

Originally in English in reference to the sects that practiced adult baptism and arose in Germany from 1521. Probably so called because, as a new faith, they baptized converts who already had been baptized (as infants) in the older Catholic or older Protestant churches. Modern branches (notably Mennonites and Amish) baptize only once (adults) and do not actively seek converts. The name also was applied, usually opprobriously, to Baptists, perhaps due to the multiple immersions of their baptisms.

anabasis (n.)

"a military advance," 1706, from Greek anabasis "military expedition," literally "a going up (from the coast)," especially in reference to the advance of Cyrus the Younger and his Greek mercenaries from near the Aegean coast into Asia, and the subsequent story of the retreat of the 10,000 narrated by Xenophon (401 B.C.E.). From anabainein "to go up, mount;" from ana "up" (see ana-) + bainein "to go, walk, step" (from PIE root *gwa- "to go, come"). Related: Anabatic.

anabolism (n.)

"constructive metabolism," 1886; see anabolic + -ism.

anabolic (adj.)

"pertaining to the process of building up" (especially in metabolism), 1876, with -ic + Greek anabolē "that which is thrown up; a mound," from anaballein "to throw or toss up," from ana "up, upward" (see ana-) + ballein "to throw" (from PIE root *gwele- "to throw, reach").

anachronism (n.)

1640s, "an error in computing time or finding dates," from Latin anachronismus, from Greek anakhronismos, from anakhronizein "refer to wrong time," from ana "against" (see ana-) + khronos "time" (see chrono-). The meaning "something out of harmony with a specified time" is recorded by 1816.

anachronistic (adj.)

"erroneous in date, involving anachronism," 1775; see anachronism + -istic.

anacoluthon (n.)

"want of grammatical sequence; changing constructions in mid-clause," whether arbitrary or intentional, 1706, from Latinized form of Greek anakoluthon, neuter of anakolouthos "inconsequent," from an- "not" (see an- (1)) + akolouthos "following," from copulative prefix a- expressing union or likeness (see a- (3)) + keleuthos "way, road, track, path, course, journey," which is of unknown etymology. "As a figure of speech it has propriety and force only so far as it suggests that the emotion of the speaker is so great as to make him forget how he began his sentence" [Century Dictionary]. Related: Anacoluthic.

anaconda (n.)

1768, a name first used in English to name a Ceylonese python, it was applied erroneously to a large South American boa, called in Brazil sucuriuba. The word is of uncertain origin, and no similar snake name is found now in Sinhalese or Tamil. One suggestion is that it is a Latinization of Sinhalese henacandaya "whip snake," literally "lightning-stem" [Barnhart]. Another suggestion is that it represents Tamil anaikkonda "having killed an elephant" [OED].

Anacreontic (adj.)

"of or in the manner of Anacreon," the "convivial bard of Greece," celebrated lyrical poet (560-478 B.C.E.), born at Teos in Ionia. Also in reference to his lyric form (1706) of a four-line stanza, rhymed alternately, each line with four beats (three trochees and a long syllable), also "convivial and amatory" (1801); and "an erotic poem celebrating love and wine" (1650s).

The name is literally "Up-lord," from ana "up" (see ana-) + kreon "lord, master," which Beekes calls "an inherited word from Indo-European poetic language," from PIE *kreih- "splendor," and he compares Sanskrit sri- "magnificence, riches, splendor, fame."

U.S. lawyer and writer Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) in 1814 set or wrote his poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" to the melody of the drinking song of the popular London gentleman's club called The Anacreontic Society, dedicated to "wit, harmony, and the god of wine." The tune is late 18c. and may be the work of society member and court musician John Stafford Smith (1750-1836).

anacrusis (n.)

"unstressed syllable at the beginning of a verse," 1833, Latinized from Greek anakrousis "a pushing back," of a ship, "backing water," from anakrouein "to push back, stop short, check," from ana "back" (see ana-) + krouein "to strike," from PIE *kreue- (2) "to push, strike" (source also of Russian krusit, Lithuanian krušu, krušti "to smash, shatter," Old Church Slavonic kruchu "piece, bit of food," Old English hreowian "feel pain or sorrow," Old Norse hryggja "make sad"). Related: Anacrustic.

anadiplosis (n.)

in rhetoric, "repetition at the start of a line or phrase of the last word or words of the preceding one," 1580s, from Latin, from Greek anadiplosis, from anadiploesthai "to be doubled back, to be made double," from ana "back" (see ana-) + diploun "to double, fold over" (see diploma).

anadromous (adj.)

"ascending," especially "ascending a river to spawn" (as salmon and other fishes do), 1753, from Latinized form of Greek anadromos "running upward," from ana "up, upward" (see ana-) + dromos "a running," from dramein "to run" (see dromedary).

anaemic (adj.)

"affected with anemia, deficient in blood," 1843; see anaemia + -ic. Figurative sense by 1898.

anaemia (n.)

"deficiency of blood in a living body," 1824, a medical term from French (1761), from Latinized form of Greek anaimia "lack of blood," from anaimos "bloodless," from an- "without" (see an- (1)) + haima "blood" (see -emia).

anaerobic (adj.)

"capable of living without oxygen," 1884 (earlier anaerobian, 1879), from French anaérobie, coined 1863 by French bacteriologist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), from Greek an- "without" (see an- (1)) + aēr "air" (see air (n.1)) + bios "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live").

anaesthesia (n.)

alternative spelling of anesthesia (q.v.). See æ (1).

anaesthesiology (n.)

alternative spelling of anesthesiology (q.v.). See æ (1).

anaesthesiologist (n.)

alternative spelling of anesthesiologist (q.v.). See æ (1).

anaesthetize (v.)

alternative spelling of anesthetize (q.v.); also see æ (1). Related: Anaesthetized; anaesthetizing.

anaesthetic (adj.)

alternative spelling of anesthetic (q.v.). See æ (1).

anaesthetist (n.)

alternative spelling of anesthetist (q.v.). See æ (1).

anagnorisis (n.)

"recognition," especially in dramatic works, c. 1800, from Latin, from Greek anagnorisis "recognition," from anagnorizein "to recognize," from ana "again" (see ana-) + gnorizein "to make known, gain knowledge of" (from PIE root *gno- "to know").

anagogical (adj.)

"having a secondary, spiritual sense" (of Scripture, etc.), 1520s, with -ical + Greek anagogē "elevation; spiritual or mystical enlightenment," from anagein "to lead up, lift up," from ana "up" (see ana-) + agein "to lead, put in motion" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").

anagram (n.)

"transposition of letters in a word so as to form another; a word so formed," 1580s, from French anagramme or Modern Latin anagramma (16c.), both from Greek anagrammatizein "transpose letters of a word so as to form another," from ana "back, backwards" (see ana-) + gramma (genitive grammatos) "letter" (see -gram). Evil is an anagram of live. Related: Anagrammatic; anagrammatical; anagrammatically.

anal (adj.)

1769, from Modern Latin analis "of the anus;" see anus. Anal-retentive is attested by 1957 in psychological jargon. Anal sex attested as such from 1966.

analects (n.)

1650s, "literary gleanings," from Latin analecta, from Greek analekta, literally "things chosen," neuter plural of analektos "select, choice," verbal adjective of analegein "to gather up, collect," from ana "up" (see ana-) + legein "to gather," also "to choose words," hence "to speak" (from PIE root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather").

analemma (n.)

1650s, "projection of the celestial sphere onto the plane of the meridian," later the name of an astronomical instrument to do this (1660s), from Latin analemma name of a type of sundial known in antiquity, a word originally meaning "pedestal of a sundial," hence by extension the sundial itself. This is from Greek analemma "prop, support" of any kind, such as a sling for a broken arm, from analambanein "to take up; restore, repair," from ana "up" (see ana-) + lambanein "to take" (see lemma). As the name of a tabulated scale in the form of a figure 8, showing the sun's position and equation of time throughout the year, from 1832.

analepsis (n.)

"recovery of strength after a disease," 1849, from Greek analepsis "a recovery," from analambanein "to restore, repair," literally "take up," from ana "up" (see ana-) + lambanein "to take" (see lemma).

analeptic (adj.)

1660s, in medicine, "restorative, invigorating, strengthening," from Latinized form of Greek analeptikos "restorative," from analambanein "to restore, repair," literally "take up," from ana "up" (see ana-) + lambanein "to take" (see lemma). Related: Analeptical (1610s).

analgesic (adj.)

"tending to remove pain," 1848, from analgesia + -ic. Alternative form analgetic (from Greek analgetos "without pain") is classically correct but less common. The noun meaning "an analgesic preparation, anything which removes pain" is recorded by 1860.

analgesia (n.)

"absence of pain, incapacity of feeling pain in a part, though tactile sense is preserved," 1706, medical Latin, from Greek analgesia "want of feeling, insensibility," from analgetos "without pain, insensible to pain" (also "unfeeling, ruthless"), from an- "not" (see an- (1)) + algein "to feel pain" (see -algia). An alternative form is analgia.

analgetic (adj.)

classically correct form of analgesic (q.v.).

analogy (n.)

early 15c., "correspondence, proportion," from Old French analogie or directly from Latin analogia, from Greek analogia "proportion," from ana "upon, according to" (see ana-) + logos "ratio," also "word, speech, reckoning" (from PIE root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather," with derivatives meaning "to speak, to 'pick out words'").

A Greek mathematical term given a wider sense by Plato. The meaning "partial agreement, likeness or proportion between things" is from 1540s. In logic, "an argument from the similarity of things in some ways inferring their similarity in others," c. 1600.

analog

chiefly U.S. spelling of analogue (q.v.).

analogous (adj.)

"corresponding (to some other) in particulars," 1640s, from Latin analogus, from Greek analogos "proportionate, according to due proportion," from ana "throughout; according to" (see ana-) + logos "ratio, proportion," a specialized use (see Logos). Used with to or with.

analogical (adj.)

"done by or of the nature of an analogy," 1580s in mathematics; c. 1600 in general use; see analogy + -ical.

analogize (v.)

"explain by analogy, exhibit resemblances between," 1650s, from analogy + -ize, or else from French analogiser (17c.). Greek analogizesthai "to reckon, sum up, calculate, consider" suits the form but not the sense. Related: Analogized; analogizing.

analogue (n.)

1826, "an analogous thing," from French analogue (adj. and n.), from Latin analogus (adj.), from Greek analogos "proportionate, according to due proportion," from ana "throughout; according to" (see ana-) + logos "ratio, proportion," a specialized use (see Logos).

The word was used in English in Greek form (analogon) in 1810. The meaning "word corresponding with another" is from 1837. The computing sense, in reference to operating with numbers represented by some measurable quantity (as a slide-rule does; opposed to digital) is recorded from 1946.

analyse (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of analyze (q.v.), which was the former spelling there (as in Johnson's dictionary). In 17c. analize also was used.

analysis (n.)

1580s, "resolution of anything complex into simple elements" (opposite of synthesis), from Medieval Latin analysis (15c.), from Greek analysis "solution of a problem by analysis," literally "a breaking up, a loosening, releasing," noun of action from analyein "unloose, release, set free; to loose a ship from its moorings," in Aristotle, "to analyze," from ana "up, back, throughout" (see ana-) + lysis "a loosening," from lyein "to unfasten" (from PIE root *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart").

The meaning "statement presenting results of an analytic process" is from 1660s. The psychological sense is from 1890. English also formerly had a noun analyse (1630s), from French analyse, from Medieval Latin analysis. Phrase in the final (or last) analysis (1844), translates French en dernière analyse.

analyst (n.)

1650s, "one versed in algebraic analysis, mathematician skilled in algebraic geometry," from French analyste "a person who analyzes," from analyser, from analyse "analysis," from Medieval Latin analysis (see analysis). As a short form of psychoanalyst, attested from 1914; the one analyzed is an analysand (1933). Greek analyter meant "a deliverer."

analytics (n.)

"the division of logic which distinguishes good from bad arguments," 1590s, from Latin analytica from Greek analytika, from stem of analyein "unloose, release, set free," from ana "up, back, throughout" (see ana-) + lysis "a loosening," from lyein "to unfasten" (from PIE root *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart"); also see -ics. Ta Analytika was the name of Aristotle's treatises on logic.

analytical (adj.)

"employing analytic methods," 1520s, with -al (1) + Medieval Latin analyticus, from analyticus, from Greek analytikos "analytical," from analytos "dissolved," from analyein "unloose, release, set free," from ana "up, back, throughout" (see ana-) + lysis "a loosening," from lyein "to unfasten" (from PIE root *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart").

In linguistics, of languages that use particles and auxiliaries (rather than inflections) to modify meaning and show relations of words, from 1830. Analytical chemistry resolves compounds into elements. Related: Analytically.

analytic (adj.)

"relating to or operating by analogy," c. 1600, from Medieval Latin analyticus, from Greek analytikos "analytical," from analytos "dissolved," from analyein "unloose, release, set free," from ana "up, back, throughout" (see ana-) + lysis "a loosening," from lyein "to unfasten" (from PIE root *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart").

analyze (v.)

c. 1600, of material things, "to dissect, take to pieces," from French analyser, from the noun analyse "analysis" (see analysis). Of literature, "examine critically to get the essence of," from 1610s; the meaning in chemistry ("resolve a compound into elements") dates from 1660s. The general sense of "to examine closely" dates from 1809; the psychological sense is by 1909. Related: Analyzed; analyzing.

analyzer (n.)

also analyser, "one who or that which analyzes" in any sense, 1620s, agent noun from analyze (v.).

anamnesis (n.)

"recollection, remembrance, reminiscence," 1650s, from Greek anamnēsis "a calling to mind, remembrance," noun of action from stem of anamimnēskein "remember, remind (someone) of (something), make mention of," from ana "back" (see ana-) + mimnēskesthai "to recall, cause to remember," related to mnēmnōn "mindful," mnēmē "memory" (from PIE root *men- (1) "to think"). In Platonic philosophy, "recollection of a prior life."

anamnestic (adj.)

"aiding the memory," 1753, from Latinized form of Greek anamnēstikos "able to recall to mind," from stem of anamimnēskein "remember" (see anamnesis).

anamniotic (adj.)

1880, "without an amnion" (of amphibians and fishes); see an- (1) "not, without" + amniotic.

anamorphic (adj.)

"distorted, relating to distortion," 1904, in geology in reference to certain metamorphic rocks; see anamorphosis + -ic. Cinematographic use dates from 1954 in reference to lenses to fit wide-screen pictures onto standard screens.

anamorphism (n.)

"distorted projection or perspective," 1836; see anamorphosis + -ism.

anamorphosis (n.)

"distorted projection or drawing" (one that looks normal from a particular angle or with a certain mirror), 1727, from Greek anamorphōsis "transformation," noun of action from anamorphoein "to transform," from ana "up" (see ana-) + morphōsis, from morphē "form," a word of uncertain etymology. In botany, "monstrous development of a part" (1830); in evolutionary biology, "gradual change of form in a species over time" (1852).

anan (interj.)

variant of anon (q.v.).

ananda (n.)

in Hindu theology, "bliss," from Sanskrit ananda- "joy, happiness, bliss," from stem of nandati "he rejoices," which is of unknown origin.

Ananias

"liar," a reference to Acts v.1-5.

ananym (n.)

real name written backwards, 1867, from Greek ana "back" (see ana-) + onyme "name" (from PIE root *no-men- "name"). Properly anonym, but this has another sense in English.

anapeiratic (adj.)

in pathology, "arising from too frequent exercise," especially of paralysis of a part caused by repetitive motion, 1877, from Greek anapeirasthai "try again, do again," from ana "again" (see ana-) + pieran "attempt, try" (see pirate (n.)).

anapest (n.)

also anapaest, "two short or unaccented syllables followed by a long or accented one," 1670s, from Latin anapaestus, from Greek anapaistos "struck back, rebounding," as a noun "an anapest," verbal adjective from anapaiein "to strike back," from ana- "back" (see ana-) + paiein "to strike" (from PIE root *pau- (2) "to cut, strike, stamp"). So called because it is a dactyl reversed.

anapestic (adj.)

"pertaining to or consisting of anapests," 1690s, from Latin anapaesticus, from Greek anapaistikos, from anapaistos (see anapest). Related: Anapestical.

anaphalantiasis (n.)

"the falling out of the eyebrows," 1853, earlier in French and German, from Greek anaphalantiasis "baldness in front," from ana "up" (see ana-) + phalanthos "bald in front."

anaphase (n.)

name of a stage of cell division, 1887, coined in German (1884), from Greek ana "back" (see ana-) + phase (n.).

anaphoric (adj.)

1914, coined in the grammatical sense by Danish linguist Otto Jespersen; see anaphora + -ic. In the sentence, "Here are some apples; take one," the one is anaphoric.

anaphora (n.)

"repetition of a word or phrase in successive clauses," 1580s, from Latin, from Greek anaphora "reference," literally "a carrying back," from anapherein "to carry back, to bring up," from ana "back" (see ana-) + pherein "to bear" (from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry").

anaphrodisiac (adj.)

"diminishing the sexual appetite," 1823, from Greek anaphroditos "without sexual desire," or from an- (1) "not, without" + aphrodisiac. Related: Anaphrodisia; anaphroditic; anaphroditous.

anaphylactic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to a severe allergic reaction," 1905, with -ic + medical Latin noun anaphylaxis "exaggerated susceptibility," from Greek ana- "up" (see ana-) + phylaxis "protection," from phylax "guardian, watcher, protector," a word of unknown origin. Compare prophylactic. Anaphylactic shock is attested by 1916.

anaphylaxis (n.)

"severe allergic reaction," 1905, from Latin anaphylaxis, perhaps based on French anaphylaxie (1902); see anaphylactic.

anarch (n.)

1660s, "leader of leaderlessness," a delicious paradox-word used by Milton, Pope, Shelley, Byron; from Greek an- "not, without" (see an- (1)) + arkhon "ruler" (see archon), and compare anarchy. Also "an anarchist" (1884).

anarchism (n.)

"political doctrine advocating leaderlessness," 1640s; see anarchy + -ism.

anarchic (adj.)

1755, "chaotic, lawless, without order or rule," from Latinized form of Greek anarkhos "without head or chief" (see anarchy) + -ic. Older in this sense was anarchical (1590s). Anarchial "disorderly, unregulated" is from 1710; Landor used anarchal "without government" (1824).

anarchy (n.)

1530s, "absence of government," from French anarchie or directly from Medieval Latin anarchia, from Greek anarkhia "lack of a leader, the state of people without a government" (in Athens, used of the Year of Thirty Tyrants, 404 B.C., when there was no archon), abstract noun from anarkhos "rulerless," from an- "without" (see an- (1)) + arkhos "leader" (see archon).

From 1660s as "confusion or absence of authority in general;" by 1849 in reference to the social theory advocating "order without power," with associations and co-operatives taking the place of direct government, as formulated in the 1830s by French political philosopher Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865).

anarchist (n.)

1670s, "one who denies the validity of ruling power;" see anarchy + -ist. The word got a boost during the French Revolution; in 19c. it was used both of "one who advocates absence of government as a political ideal" (philosophical or scientific anarchism) and "one who seeks to overthrow violently all forms and institutions of society and government with no intention of establishing others."

anarchistic (adj.)

"advocating the political philosophy of anarchism," 1845, from anarchist + -ic. Differentiated from anarchic, which tends to mean "chaotic, lawless." Related: Anarchistically.

anarcho-syndicalist

also anarchosyndicalist, by 1899, from anarcho-, combining form of anarchist (adj.) + syndicalist (see syndicalism). Also anarchist syndicalist (1907). Related: Anarcho-syndicalism.

anasarca (n.)

"subcutaneous dropsy," late 14c., medical Latin, abbreviation of Greek phrase (hydrops) ana sarka "(dropsy) throughout the flesh," from ana "throughout" (see ana-) + sarx (genitive sarkos) "flesh" (see sarcasm).

Anasazi

Name applied by their Navajo neighbors to modern Pueblo peoples of the U.S. southwest, and to various landscape features associated with them, from Navajo anaasazi "ancestors of the enemies." Said to first have been applied to the ancient Pueblo ruins of southwestern United States in the Mesa Verde region c. 1889 by rancher and trader Richard Wetherill, who began exploration of the sites in the area; established in archaeological terminology 1927.

Anastasia

fem. proper name, from fem. of Late Latin Anastasius, from Greek Anastasios, from anastasis "resurrection, a raising up of the dead;" literally "a setting up, a standing or rising up," from ana "up; again" (see ana-) + histanai "to cause to stand, to stand" (from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").

anastomosis (n.)

in anatomy, "union or intercommunication of the vessels of one system with those of another," 1610s, medical Latin, from Greek anastomosis "outlet, opening," from anastomoein "to open, discharge" (as one sea into another), "to furnish with a mouth," from ana "again, anew" (see ana-) + stoma "mouth" (see stoma). Related: Anastomotic.

anastrophe (n.)

"inversion of usual word order," 1570s, from Greek anastrophē "a turning back, a turning upside down," from anastrephein "to turn up, turn back, turn upside-down," from ana "back" (see ana-) + strephein "to turn" (see strepto-).

anathema (n.)

1520s, "an accursed thing," from Latin anathema "an excommunicated person; the curse of excommunication," from Ecclesiastical Greek anathema "a thing accursed," a slight variation of classical Greek anathama, which meant merely "a thing devoted," literally "a thing set up (to the gods)," such as a votive offering in a temple, from ana "up" (see ana-) + tithenai "to put, to place" (from reduplicated form of PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").

By the time it reached Late Latin the meaning of the Greek word had progressed through "thing devoted to evil," to "thing accursed or damned." Later it was applied to persons and the Divine Curse. The meaning "act or formula of excommunicating and consigning to damnation by ecclesiastical authority" is from 1610s.

Anathema maranatha, taken as an intensified form, is held to be a misreading of I Corinthians xvi.22 where anathema is followed by Aramaic maran atha "Our Lord hath come" (see Maranatha).

anathematize (v.)

"to pronounce an anathema against, denounce, curse," 1560s, from French anathématiser (Old French anatemer), from Late Latin anathematizare, from Ecclesiastical Greek anathematizein "to devote (to evil); excommunicate," from stem of anathema (q.v.). Alternative anathemize (1670s) is less correct and more rare. Related: Anathematized; anathematizing.

anathematization (n.)

"act of formally denouncing as accursed," 1590s, from Medieval Latin anathematizationem (nominative anathematizatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Late Latin anathematizare, from Greek anathematizein "to devote (to evil)," from stem of anathema (q.v.). Earlier was anathemization (1540s).

anathematisation (n.)

chiefly British English spelling of anathematization; see -ize.

anathematise (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of anathematize (q.v.). For suffix, see -ize. Related: Anathematised; anathematising.

Anatolia

ancient name of Asia Minor, from Medieval Latin Anatolia, from Greek anatole "the east," originally "sunrise" (which of course happens in the east), literally "a rising above (the horizon)," from anatellein "to rise," from ana "up" (see ana-) + tellein "to accomplish, perform." Related: Anatolian.

anatomize (v.)

"to dissect, investigate by dissection," early 15c., from Medieval Latin anatomizare, from Greek anatomia (see anatomy). Related: Anatomized; anatomizing.

anatomically (adv.)

"in an anatomical manner," 1640s, from anatomical + -ly (2). Anatomically correct, in reference to dolls and meaning "with genitalia," is attested by 1968, perhaps 1967, American English, in reference to Petit Frère, an imported French boy doll.

anatomical (adj.)

"of or pertaining to anatomy," 1580s; see anatomy + -ical.

anatomic (adj.)

"anatomical," 1712, from Latin anatomicus, from Greek anatomikos "relating to anatomy," from anatomia (see anatomy). Anatomical is older.

anatomy (n.)

late 14c., "study or knowledge of the structure and function of the human body" (learned by dissection); c. 1400, "anatomical structure," from Old French anatomie and directly from Late Latin anatomia, from late Greek anatomia for classical anatomē "dissection," literally "a cutting up," from ana "up" (see ana-) + temnein "to cut" (from PIE root *tem- "to cut").

"Dissection" (1540s), "mummy" (1580s), and "skeleton" (1590s) were primary senses of this word in Shakespeare's day; the meaning "the science of the structure of organized bodies" predominated from 17c. Of persons, "the body," from 1590s. Often misdivided as an atomy or a natomy (see N).

-ance

word-forming element attached to verbs to form abstract nouns of process or fact (convergence from converge), or of state or quality (absence from absent); ultimately from Latin -antia and -entia, which depended on the vowel in the stem word, from PIE *-nt-, adjectival suffix.

Latin present-participle endings for verbs stems in -a- were distinguished from those in -i- and -e-. Hence Modern English protestant, opponent, obedient from Latin protestare, opponere, obedire.

As Old French evolved from Latin, these were leveled to -ance, but later French borrowings from Latin (some of them subsequently passed to English) used the appropriate Latin form of the ending, as did words borrowed by English directly from Latin (diligence, absence).

English thus inherited a confused mass of words from French (crescent/croissant), and further confused it since c. 1500 by restoring -ence selectively in some forms of these words to conform with Latin. Thus dependant, but independence, etc.

ancestor (n.)

"one from whom a person is descended," c. 1300, ancestre, antecessour, from Old French ancestre, ancessor "ancestor, forebear, forefather" (12c., Modern French ancêtre), from Late Latin antecessor "predecessor," literally "fore-goer," agent noun from past-participle stem of Latin antecedere "to precede," from ante "before" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead," with derivatives meaning "in front of, before") + cedere "to go" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield"). The current form is from early 15c. Feminine form ancestress is recorded from 1570s.