epidemic

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἐπιδήμιος
2. Late Latin · derived fromepidēmia
3. Medieval Latin · derived fromepidēmia
4. French · derived fromépidémique
5. English todayepidemic

From French épidémique, from épidémie, from Medieval Latin epidēmia, reanalysis of plural Late Latin epidēmia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιδήμιος (epidḗmios), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + δῆμος (dêmos, “people”). By surface analysis, epi- (“on”) + demic (“of the people”).