quantum

The story

1. Latin · derived fromquantus“how much”
2. Late Latin · borrowed fromquantum
3. English todayquantum

From Late Latin quantum, noun use of neuter form of Latin quantus (“how much”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. The total amount of something; quantity.
• from 17th c. The amount of compensation awarded to a successful party in a lawsuit.
• from 17th c. The length or magnitude of the sentence handed down to someone who has been found guilty of a crime.
• from 18th c. The amount or quantity observably present, or available.
• from 20th c. The smallest possible, and therefore indivisible, unit of a given quantity or quantifiable phenomenon.