myEtymology.com: English etymology of biopsy

Etymology of the English word biopsy

the English word biopsy

derived from the Greek word opsis, ὄψις (vision; sight; properly, sight (the act); the visage, an external show)

derived from the Greek word ops, ὤψ

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *okʷ-

using the English prefix bio-

derived from the Late Greek word bios, βίος (life; life; the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷei- (to live)

derived from the Greek word phantasma, φάντασμα ((properly concrete) a (mere) show ('phantasm'); spectre)

derived from the Greek word phantazein, φαντάζω (to make apparent; to appear (neuter participle as noun, a spectacle))

derived from the Greek word phantos

derived from the Late Greek word phainein, φαίνω (to display; to show)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bha-

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bhā-

using the Greek suffix -scope

derived from the English word bi-

using the English suffix -opsy

derived from the Proto-Germanic root *berkjon

The earliest known usage of biopsy in English dates from the 20th century.

Word found in Modern English