English
hectic
Hectic comes from Ancient Greek ἑκτικός ‘habitual, hectic, consumptive’, from ἔχω ‘to have, hold, be in a certain state’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- ‘to overpower’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*seǵʰ-‘to overpower’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*séǵʰeti‘to overpower, take hold of’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hékʰō‘to have’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔχωékheinas ἔχειν‘to have, hold, be in a certain state’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἕξιςhéxis‘a state or habit of body or of mind, condition’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἑκτικόςhektikós‘habitual, hectic, consumptive’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500*hecticusreconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400etique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500etik
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602hectic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*seǵʰ-‘to overpower’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*séǵʰeti‘to overpower, take hold of’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hékʰō‘to have’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔχωékheinas ἔχειν‘to have, hold, be in a certain state’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἕξιςhéxis‘a state or habit of body or of mind, condition’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἑκτικόςhektikós‘habitual, hectic, consumptive’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500*hecticusreconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400etique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500etik
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602hectic
Earliest quotation: c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: “[…] Do it England, / For like the Hecticke…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- ‘to overpower’
school, severe, scholar, severity, perseverance, schema, hector, scholastic, shul, 23 more
through Ancient Greek ἔχω ‘to have, hold, be in a certain state’
through Middle English etik
Today it means
adj Very busy with activity and confusion.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- / hectic