nuclear

The story

1. Latin · derived fromnū̆cleus
2. English todaynuclear

From Latin nū̆cleus, a contraction of the adjective nuculeus, masculine of feminine nuculea (“pertaining to a small nut”) from nucula + adjectival suffix -eus, -ea, -eum. The Latin nucula + -āris adds up to nuculāris, a term that in English becomes nucular; the Latin nuculea + -āris, becomes Latin nuculeāris (“relative to what pertains to small nut”), later contracted into nuclear. By surface analysis, nucleus + -ar. Compare muscle and Latin mūsculus; muscular and mūsculāris.

First known use, by meaning

• from 20th c. Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom.
• from 20th c. Involving energy released by nuclear reactions (fission, fusion, radioactive decay).
• from 20th c. Relating to a weapon that derives its force from rapid release of energy through nuclear reactions.
• from 19th c. Pertaining to the nucleus of a cell.
• from 19th c. Pertaining to a centre around which something is developed or organised; central, pivotal.