While discussing potential new names for the OEDILF project, the neologism 'omnilexic' came up for discussion. It has mixed Latin and Greek roots: omni- from the Latin omnis; and -lexic from the Greek lexis.

What accepted English words are there that exhibit such a mixed etymology?

What accepted English words are there that exhibit such a mixed etymology?

Heterosexual, homosexual, tonsillectomy, and appendectomy. Also, if you wed French to Greek, you get bureaucracy. You might try panlexic.

television, monolingual, monoplane

While it doesn't qualify on this discussion, I've long been curious as to why one hears epinephrine (Greek) and adrenalin (Latin). both used when they mean the same thing.

It seems that doctors tend to use the Greek more often.

By sheer coincidence I stumbled across this today.

macadamize: to construct or finish (a road) by compacting into a solid mass a layer of small broken stone on a convex well-drained roadbed and using a binder (as cement or asphalt) for the mass. After John L. McAdam died 1836 British engineer

macadamized: Mac is Gaelic; Adam is Hebrew; -ize is Greek; and -d is Old English.

Is the "macadamia nut" related?

I've long been curious as to why one hears epinephrine (Greek) and adrenalin (Latin).

Epinephrine is converted from norepinephrine in the adrenal medulla. It is stored in the adrenal medulla, and responds to an action potential. Then it travels through the bloodstream to target organs. Epinephrine, as part of the sympathetic nervous system, is a neurotransmitter to adrenergic receptors, and can cause many different responses, including mydriasis; arteriolar constriction or dilation (depending on the organ); venous constriction; ejaculation; increased heart rate, force of contraction, and conduction; and dilation of the bronchi; among other actions.

The point of the above is to point out, in fact, how important the Latin root is. I tried to find a good discussion about the word "adrenaline" in my medical books or from Google, but couldn't.

Also, while 'epinephrine' is the generic (sometimes called official) name in pharmacology, 'Adrenaline' is the trade name.

It is my understanding that Greek and Latin words are equally important in medicine, but I am not an authority on that.

Kalleh says,

quote:

---

"It is my understanding that Greek and Latin words are equally important in medicine, but I am not an authority on that."

---

It is my understanding that this is true only in English, and that Dutch medicine, for one, gets by with the use of Dutch words instead of Greek and Latin. But I am not an authority on that.

Is there an authority in the house?

It is my understanding that this is true only in English, and that Dutch medicine, for one, gets by with the use of Dutch words instead of Greek and Latin.

Jerry, I don't know the answer to your question, but I did ask my logophile friend about medicine's use of Latin and Greek. He is a physician, and he says that he thinks that Latin, rather than Greek, is more prevalent in English medicine.

I am not sure if Latin and Greek influence medical words in languages other than English, though. Great question. Does anyone know?