atomic

The word 'atomic' is built upon the ancient Greek concept of the 'atom', which was considered the smallest, indivisible unit of matter. The Greek term atomos literally meant 'uncuttable' or 'indivisible', derived from the negative prefix a- and the verb temnein (to cut). The suffix -ic, entering English via Latin, is a standard adjectival formant meaning 'of or relating to'. Thus, the literal construction 'pertaining to the indivisible unit' evolved into the modern scientific term describing anything related to atoms or their immense energy, a meaning solidified in the 20th century with the development of nuclear physics.

Structure: atom (indivisible particle) + ic (adjective-forming suffix) - atom: From Greek atomos, meaning 'indivisible', from a- (not) + temnein (to cut). In this word, it functions as the core noun root. - ic: A suffix of Greek origin via Latin -icus, used to form adjectives meaning 'of or pertaining to'.