-genesis

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵenh₁-
2. Proto-Indo-European*ǵénh₁tis
3. Proto-Hellenic*génetis
4. Ancient Greekγένεσῐς (génesĭs)
5. English today-genesis

Via Latin, from Ancient Greek γένεσις (génesis). The simplex genesis is in use as a common noun (as opposed to Genesis, the name of the biblical book) since the late 16th century, as a suffix since the mid 17th century (attested in epigenesis and palingenesis). Influenced by French -génésie and German -genese and productive in scientific vocabulary from the 19th century on.

Words from the same roots