cosmogony

The term 'cosmogony' is a modern scientific compound formed directly from ancient Greek elements. It combines 'kosmos', which in Greek philosophy denoted the ordered and harmonious universe, with '-gonia', a suffix pertaining to genesis and coming into being. This construction follows a classical model for naming fields of study, such as 'theogony' (origin of the gods). The word's logic is transparently literal, moving from the concrete ancient concepts of "world-order" and "birth" to the modern abstract meaning of a scientific or mythological theory explaining the universe's inception. It entered English in the late 17th century via French and Latin, retaining its precise, learned character.

Structure: cosmo (universe, world) + gony (origin, birth) - cosmo: From Greek 'kosmos', meaning "world, universe, order." In this word, it functions as the base, specifying the subject matter. - gony: From Greek '-gonia', derived from 'gonos' meaning "birth, origin, generation." In this word, it functions as a combining form indicating the study or account of origins.