physical

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰuH-“to appear, become, rise up”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromφυσική
3. Latin · derived fromphysica“study of nature”
4. Late Latin · borrowed fromphysicālis
5. English todayphysical

Borrowed from Late Latin physicālis, from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φυσικός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), from φύσις (phúsis, “origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind”), from φῠ́ω (phŭ́ō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 15th–19th c. Pertaining to the field of medicine; medical.
• 18th c. That practises medicine; pertaining to doctors, physicianly.
• 16th–19th c. Medicinal; good for the health, curative, therapeutic.
• from 16th c. Pertaining to the world as understood through the senses rather than the mind, having to do with the material world.
• from 16th c. In accordance with the laws of nature; now specifically, pertaining to physics.
• from 18th c. Denoting a map showing natural features of the landscape (compare political).
• from 18th c. Having to do with the body as opposed to the mind; corporeal, bodily.
• from 18th c. Sexual, carnal.