"H" Word Origins

hypodermic

Latin

From hypo- ("under") + dermic (relating to the skin), from Greek derma.

hyponym

Origin

From hyp- + -onym or hypo- + -nym; from Ancient Greek ὑπό (hupó, “under”) + ὄνυμα (ónuma) ("appellation"), a Doric specific dialectal form of ὄνομα (ónoma, “name”).

hypotensive

Origin

From hypo- ("under") + tensive, related to "tension."

hypotenuse

Greek

From Greek hypoteinousa ("stretching under, subtending"), describing the side that stretches opposite the right angle.

hypothalamus

Origin

From hypo- ("under") + thalamus, since it sits below the brain's thalamus.

hypothec

Origin

From Latin hypothēca (“pledge, mortgage”), from Ancient Greek ὑποθήκη (hupothḗkē, “warning, pledge”).

hypothecate

Origin

From Latin hypothecatus, past participle of hypotheco, hypothecare. This was in turn derived from Ancient Greek ὑποθήκη (hupothḗkē, “pledge”), from the verb ὑποτίθημι (hupotíthēmi, “to pledge as surety”).

hypothermia

Greek

From Greek hypo- ("under") + thermē ("heat") + -ia — literally "under-heat."

hypothermic

Origin

From hypo- + -thermic, related to hypothermia.

hypothesis

Greek

From Greek hypothesis ("a placing under, a basis for argument"), from hypotithēmi ("to put forward, suggest").

hypothesise

Origin

From hypothesis + -ise.

hypothetical

Greek

From Greek hypothetikos, related to hypothesis.

hypothetically

Origin

From hypothetical + -ly.

hypotrophy

Origin

From hypo- + -trophy.

hypoxemia

Origin

By surface analysis, hyp- + ox- + -emia.

hypoxia

Origin

Built from hyp- ("under") + ox- (referring to oxygen) + -ia.

hypoxic

Origin

From hypoxia + -ic or hyp- + ox- + -ic.

hysterectomy

Latin

From hyster- (relating to the uterus) + -ectomy ("surgical removal").

hysteria

Latin

From Latin hystericus, from Greek hysterikos ("suffering in the womb") — from hystera ("womb"). Ancient physicians wrongly attributed this emotional state to the uterus.

hysteric

Origin

From Latin hystericus, from Ancient Greek ὑστερικός (husterikós, “suffering in the uterus, hysterical”), from ὑστέρα (hustéra, “womb”).

hysterical

Greek

From hysteric + -al, ultimately from Greek hystera ("womb").

hysterically

Origin

From hysterical + -ly.

Hyun

Chinese

Borrowed from Korean 현 (hyeon), from Chinese 玄 (xuán).

Hyundai

Korean

From Korean hyeondae ("modern times"), named after the wider Hyundai business group the automaker was originally part of.

hyung

Korean

Borrowed directly from Korean hyeong, meaning "older brother" (used by a male speaker).