climacteric

The story

1. Koine Greek · derived fromκλιμακτηρικός
2. Latin · borrowed fromclīmactēricus
3. English todayclimacteric

From Latin clīmactēricus, from Koine Greek κλιμακτηρικός (klimaktērikós), from κλιμακτήρ (klimaktḗr, “scale, progression, gradation”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. Pertaining to any of several supposedly critical years of a person's life.
• from 17th c. Critical or crucial; decisive.
• from 18th c. Relating to a period of physiological change during middle age; especially, menopausal.
• from 18th c. Climactic.
• from 17th c. A critical stage or decisive point; a turning point.
• from 17th c. A period in human life in which some great change is supposed to take place, calculated in different ways by different authorities (often identified as every seventh or ninth year).
• from 18th c. The period of life that leads up to and follows the end of menstruation in women; the menopause.