organismus

Forms

organismus m (genitive organismī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a New Latin coinage, from Ancient Greek ὄργανον (órganon, “instrument, organ”) with the suffix -ismus.^[1] Etymonline describes it as Medical Latin, formed as if from a Greek ⟨organismos⟩ based on the same Greek word.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a learned word of modern Latin, meaning an organism.^[1][3]

Semantic evolution

The Latin word was the model for German Organismus, and through it for the sense “living body” of English organism.^[2] Ecclesiastical Latin dictionaries list it with the meaning “organism”.^[3]

Timeline

• by 1825 – English organism takes the sense “living body”, translating German Organismus, from Medical Latin organismus.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (New Latin) An organism.^[1][3]

Related words

• organum
• English organism

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson