英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

metropolis: metropolis: [16] A metropolis is etymologically a ‘mother city’. The word comes via late Latin mētropolis from Greek mētrópolis, a compound formed from métēr ‘mother’ (a distant relative of English mother) and pólis ‘city’ (source of English police, policy, politics, etc).
=> mother, police, policy, politics
police: police: [16] Etymologically, the police are in charge of the administration of a ‘city’. In fact, police is essentially the same word as policy ‘plan of action’. Both go back to Latin polītīa ‘civil administration’, a descendant of Greek pólis ‘city’. In medieval Latin a variant polītia emerged, which became French police.

English took it over, and at first continued to use it for ‘civil administration’ (Edmund Burke as late as 1791 described the Turks as ‘a barbarous nation, with a barbarous neglect of police, fatal to the human race’). Its specific application to the administration of public order emerged in France in the early 18th century, and the first body of public-order officers to be named police in England was the Marine Police, a force set up around 1798 to protect merchandise in the Port of London.
=> politics
policy: policy: English has two distinct and completely unrelated words policy. The one meaning ‘plan of action’ [14] comes via Old French policie from Latin polītīa ‘civil administration’, source also of English police and the now archaic polity [16]. This in turn came from Greek polīteíā, a derivative of pólis ‘city’ (source of English politics).

But the insurance policy [16] comes via French police ‘document’ and Provençal polissa from medieval Latin apodissa, an alteration of Latin apodīxis ‘proof, demonstration’, which in turn was acquired from Greek apódeixis, a compound noun derived ultimately from the verb deiknúnai ‘show’.
=> politics; diction
polio: polio: [20] Polio is an abbreviation of poliomyelitis [19], a term coined in modern Latin from Greek poliós ‘grey’ and muelós ‘marrow’ (a derivative of mūs ‘muscle’) – hence ‘inflammation of the ‘grey matter’ of the spinal chord’
polish: polish: [13] Latin polīre ‘make smooth and shiny’ is the ultimate source of English polish. It passed into Old French as polir, whose stem form was poliss- – whence polish. The element -pol- of English interpolate is related to polīre.
=> interpolate, polite
polite: polite: [15] Someone who is polite is etymologically ‘polished’ – indeed that is what the word originally meant in English (‘The arch within and without was hiled [covered] with gold polite’, Mirror of man’s salvation 1450). This had passed metaphorically into ‘refined’ by the 16th century, but not until the 17th century did the modern sense ‘having refined manners’ emerge. It was borrowed from polītus, the past participle of Latin polīre ‘polish’ (source of English polish).
=> polish
politics: politics: [16] Politics is etymologically the art of ‘civil administration’. It is an English rendering of Greek tà polītiká ‘affairs of state’. Greek polītikós ‘of the city or state, civil, political’ was a derivative of polítēs ‘citizen’, which in turn came from pólis ‘city, state’ (source also of English police and policy and related to Sanskrit pūr ‘stronghold, fortified place’). It passed into English via Latin polīticus and Old French politique as politic [15], which originally meant ‘political’ as well as ‘judicious’ (political was coined in the 16th century).
=> cosmopolitan, metropolis, police, policy
polity: polity: see policy
spoliation: spoliation: see spoil
acropolis (n.): 1660s, from Latinized form of Greek akropolis "citadel" (especially that of Athens), from akros "highest, upper" (see acrid) + polis in its older sense of "citadel; enclosed space, often on high ground" (see polis).
apolitical (adj.): 1947, from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + political.
cosmopolitan (adj.): 1844, from cosmopolite "citizen of the world" (q.v.) on model of metropolitan. The U.S. women's magazine of the same name was first published in 1886. Cosmopolitanism first recorded 1828.
cosmopolite (n.): late 16c., "man of the world; citizen of the world," from Greek kosmopolites "citizen of the world," from kosmos "world" (see cosmos) + polites "citizen" (see politic). In common use 17c. in a neutral sense; it faded out in 18c. but was revived from c. 1800 with a tinge of reproachfulness (opposed to patriot).
depoliticize (v.): 1928, from de- + politicize. Related: Depoliticized; depoliticizing.
despoliation (n.): 1650s, from Late Latin despoliationem (nominative despoliatio), noun of action from Latin despoliatus, past participle of despoliare (see despoil).
geopolitical (adj.): 1902, from geo- + political, translating Swedish geopolitisk, which was used in 1900 by Swedish political scientist Rudolf Kjellén (1864-1922). Related: Geopolitics (1903).
impolite (adj.): 1610s, "unrefined, rough," from Latin impolitus "unpolished, rough, unrefined," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + politus "polished" (see polite). Sense of "discourteous, ill-mannered" is from 1739. Related: Impolitely; impoliteness.
impolitic (adj.): "not according to good policy," c. 1600, from assimilated form of in- (1) "not, opposite of" + politic.
Indianapolis: city in Indiana, U.S., founded 1821, from Indiana + -polis.
megalopolis (n.): 1832, from comb. form of Greek megas (genitive megalou) "great" (see mickle) + polis "city" (see polis). The word was used in classical times as an epithet of great cities (Athens, Syracuse, Alexandria), and it also was the name of a former city in Arcadia.
metapolitics (n.): 1784, "abstract political science;" see meta- + politics. Related: metapolitical, attested from 1670s in sense "outside the realm of politics."
metropolis (n.): "seat of a metropolitan bishop," 1530s, from Late Latin metropolis; see metropolitan. Meaning "chief town or capital city of a province" is first attested 1580s, earlier metropol (late 14c.).
metropolitan (n.): early 15c., "bishop having oversight of other bishops," from Late Latin metropolitanus, from Greek metropolis "mother city" (from which others have been colonized), also "capital city," from meter "mother" (see mother (n.1)) + polis "city" (see polis).

In Greek, "parent state of a colony;" later, "see of a metropolitan bishop." In the West, the position now roughly corresponds to archbishop, but in the Greek church it ranks above it.
metropolitan (adj.): 1540s, "belonging to an ecclesiastical metropolis," from Late Latin metropolitanus, from Greek metropolites "resident of a city," from metropolis (see metropolitan (n.)). Meaning "belonging to a chief or capital city" is from 1550s. In reference to underground city railways, it is attested from 1867.
metropolitanism (n.): 1855, from metropolitan (adj.) + -ism.
monopolistic (adj.): 1858; see monopoly + -istic.
monopolize (v.): 1610s; see monopoly + -ize. Figurative use from 1620s. Related: Monopolized; monopolizing; monopolization.
Neapolitan (n.): early 15c., "native or resident of Naples," literally "of Naples," from Latin Neapolitanus, from Neapolis (see Naples); it preserves in English the Greek name of the city. As an adjective from 1590s. As a type of ice cream, from 1871; originally meaning both "ice cream of three layers and flavors" and "ice cream made with eggs added to the cream before freezing." In early 18c., Neapolitan consolation meant "syphilis."
necropolis (n.): "large cemetery" of an ancient or modern city, 1803, from Late Latin, literally "city of the dead," from Greek Nekropolis, a burial place near Alexandria, from nekros (see necro-) + polis "city" (see polis).
non-political (adj.): 1860, from non- + political.
oligopolistic (adj.): 1939, from oligo- "little, small," in plural, "few" + -poly, from Greek polein "to sell" (see monopoly).
-polis: word-forming element meaning "City," from Greek polis "city" (see polis).
Persepolis: ancient capital of Persia, founded 6c. B.C.E. by Darius the Great; from Greek, literally "city of the Persians," from Perses "Persians" (see Persian) + -polis "city" (see polis). The modern Iranian name for the place is Takht-e-jamshid, literally "throne of Jamshid," a legendary king whose name was substituted when Darius was forgotten.
police (n.): c. 1530, at first essentially the same word as policy (n.1); from Middle French police (late 15c.), from Latin politia "civil administration," from Greek polis "city" (see polis).

Until mid-19c. used in England for "civil administration;" application to "administration of public order" (1716) is from French (late 17c.), and originally in English referred to France or other foreign nations. The first force so-named in England was the Marine Police, set up 1798 to protect merchandise at the Port of London. Police state "state regulated by means of national police" first recorded 1865, with reference to Austria. Police action in the international sense of "military intervention short of war, ostensibly to correct lawlessness" is from 1933. Police officer is attested from 1800. Police station is from 1817.
police (v.): "to keep order in," 1580s, from Middle French policer, from police (see police (n.)). Meaning "to keep order by means of police" is from 1837. Related: Policed; policing.
policeman (n.): 1790, from police (n.) + man (n.).
Polichinelle (n.): "Punch," French (17c.), from Neapolitan Polecenella (see Punch).
policlinic (n.): 1827, originally, "clinic held in a private house" (instead of a hospital), from German Poliklinik, from Greek polis "city" (see polis) + Klinik, from French clinique (see clinic).
policy (n.1): "way of management," late 14c., policie, "study or practice of government; good government;" from Old French policie (14c.) "political organization, civil administration," from Late Latin politia "the state, civil administration," from Greek politeia "state, administration, government, citizenship," from polites "citizen," from polis "city, state" (see polis). Meaning "plan of action, way of management" first recorded c. 1400.
policy (n.2): "written insurance agreement," 1560s, from Middle French police "contract, bill of lading" (late 14c.), from Italian polizza "written evidence of a transaction," from Old Italian poliza, from Medieval Latin apodissa "receipt for money," from Greek apodexis "proof, declaration," from apo- "off" + deiknynia "to show," cognate with Latin dicere "to tell" (see diction).
polio (n.): 1911, abbreviation of poliomyelitis.
poliomyelitis (n.): 1874, also polio-myelitis, coined by German physician Adolph Kussmaul (1822-1902) from Greek polios "grey" (see fallow (adj.)) + myelos "marrow" + -itis "inflammation." So called because the gray matter in the spinal cord is inflamed, which causes paralysis. The earlier name was infantile paralysis (1843).
In many respects, also, this affection resembles the acute spinal paralysis of infancy, which, from the researches of Charcot, Joffroy, and others, have been shown pathologically to be an acute myelitis of the anterior cornua. Hence, for these forms of paralysis, Professor Kussmaul suggests the name of 'poliomyelitis anterior.' ["London Medical Record," Dec. 9, 1874]
polis (n.): "ancient Greek city-state," 1894, from Greek polis "city, one's city; the state, citizens," from PIE *pele- "citadel; enclosed space, often on high ground" (cognates: Sanskrit pur, puram "city, citadel," Lithuanian pilis "fortress").
polish (v.): early 14c., polischen "make smooth," from Old French poliss-, present participle stem of polir (12c.) "to polish, decorate, see to one's appearance," from Latin polire "to polish, make smooth; decorate, embellish;" figuratively "refine, improve," said to be from Proto-Indo-European *pel- "to thrust, strike, drive" (via the notion of fulling cloth). The sense of "free from coarseness, to refine" first recorded in English mid-14c. Related: Polished; polishing. Slang polish off "finish" is 1837, from notion of applying a coat of polish being the final step in a piece of work.
polish (n.): 1590s, "absence of coarseness," from polish (v.). From 1704 as "act of polishing;" 1819 as "substance used in polishing."
Polish (adj.): 1670s, from Pole + -ish. Related: Polishness. Polish-American attested from 1898.
polished (adj.): late 14c., "made smooth;" early 15c., "elegant;" past participle adjective from polish (v.).
Politburo (n.): "highest policy-making committee of the U.S.S.R.," 1927, from Russian politbyuro, contracted from politicheskoe byuro "political bureau."
polite (adj.): late 14c., "polished, burnished" (mid-13c. as a surname), from Latin politus "refined, elegant, accomplished," literally "polished," past participle of polire "to polish, to make smooth" (see polish (v.)). Used literally at first in English; sense of "elegant, cultured" is first recorded c. 1500, that of "behaving courteously" is 1748 (implied in politely). Related: Politeness.
politesse (n.): "civility," 1717, from French politesse (17c.), from Italian politezza, properly "the quality of being polite," from polito "polite," from Latin politus (see polite).