genetic

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromγίγνομαι“I come into being”
2. Ancient Greek · learned borrowing fromγενετικός
3. English todaygenetic

Coined from genesis, similarly to antithesis, antithetic. Reflects Ancient Greek γενετικός (genetikós), from γένεσις (génesis) + -κός (-kós). Ultimately from Ancient Greek γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “I come into being”). By surface analysis, gene + -tic or gen(esis) + -etic.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1908 Relating to genetics or genes.
• from 1831 Of or relating to origin (genesis).