Etymology

neostigmine

N1E1O1S1T1I1G2M3I1N1E1

Today it means: An anticholinesterase drug used in the form of its bromide C₁₂H₁₉BrN₂O₂ or a methyl sulfate derivative C₁₃H₂₂N₂O₆S especially in the diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis and in the treatment of urinary bladder or bowel atony. Full definition →

English physostigmine ← Ancient Greek φῦσᾰ (phûsă) ← Proto-Hellenic *néwos
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*nu
  2. Proto-Indo-European*néwos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*néwos
  4. Ancient Greekνέος (néos)
  5. Ancient Greekνεο- (neo-)
  6. Englishneo-
  7. Ancient Greekφῦσᾰ (phûsă)
  8. Englishphysostigmine
  9. English todayneostigmine

From neo- + -stigmine (“acetylcholinesterase inhibitor”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.