television
ˈtɛlɪˌvɪʒən
noun
Origin
Greek/Latin hybrid
tēle + vīsiō — far + sight
Overview
Meaning Now
- A system for transmitting visual images and sound that are reproduced on screens.
- A device equipped with a screen for receiving and displaying such transmissions.
Literal older meaning
seeing from afar
Language path
Greek → Latin → French → English
Earliest form
television
Earliest period
1907
Journey
The term was coined by blending the Greek prefix 'tele-' (far) with the Latin-derived 'vision' (sight). It first appeared in the early 20th century as engineers experimented with wireless image transmission, predating the commercial success of the device itself.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
tēle
“at a distance”
Prefix indicating remote location.
- Latin
vīsiō
“a seeing, appearance”
From the verb vidēre (to see).
- French
télévision
“transmission of images”
Coined in the early 20th century.
- English
television
“electronic medium for moving images”
Adopted into common usage following technical developments.
Connections
Word parts
tele-
prefix
far, distant
-vision
root
sight, seeing
Related across languages
French
télévision
television
German
Fernsehen
distance-seeing (literal calque)
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Related to television
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.