Etymograph

English

asthma

Asthma comes from Medieval Latin asthma ‘panting, laboured breathing’, and perhaps goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂enh₁-1‘to breathe’uncertain
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἆσθμα2âsthma‘laborious breathing, asthma’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500asthma2‘panting, laboured breathing’
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500asma2
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1842asthma2

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, Ancient Greek ἆσθμα, which cites Beekes, Chantraine
  2. 2 Wiktionary, English asthma
  3. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1842, anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizab, Keeping up Appearances. […]: “...but rheumatism is a vulgar complaint, and would sink…”.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂enh₁-Wiktionary, Ancient Greek ἆσθμα, which cites Beekes, Chantraine‘to breathe’uncertain
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἆσθμαWiktionary, English asthmaâsthma‘laborious breathing, asthma’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500asthmaWiktionary, English asthma‘panting, laboured breathing’
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500asmaWiktionary, English asthma
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1842asthmaWiktionary, English asthma. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1842, anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizab, Keeping up Appearances. […]: “...but rheumatism is a vulgar complaint, and would sink…”

The story

The spelling was changed to add -th- in the 16th century to match the Greek etymological roots.

Full etymology on Wiktionary

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- ‘to breathe’

and, animal, anime, unanimous, inhale, animosity, 26 more

Today it means

noun A long-term respiratory condition, in which the airways may unexpectedly and suddenly narrow, often in response to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “asthma”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entry for Ancient Greek ἆσθμα. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- / asthma

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