protogenesis
|pro-to-gen-e-sis|
🇺🇸
/ˌproʊtəˈdʒɛnəsɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌprəʊtəˈdʒɛnəsɪs/
first origin / initial formation
Etymology
'protogenesis' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'protos' and 'genesis', where 'protos' meant 'first' and 'genesis' meant 'origin' or 'birth'.
'protogenesis' was formed in New Latin/modern scientific usage from Greek elements and used in 19th-century scientific literature before entering English as the technical term 'protogenesis'.
Initially it meant 'first production' or 'first origin', and over time it has retained that core sense while becoming specialized for biological, geological, or developmental contexts to mean 'primary formation' or 'initial emergence'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the original formation or first development of something; primary origin (often used in biological or geological contexts to denote the initial generation or emergence).
Researchers discussed the protogenesis of the island's unique flora during the symposium.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 05:16