autism

The name of the mental condition was coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, who called it autismus (from Greek autos "self" + ismos "an action or state") after the symptomatic "morbid self-absorption" exhibited by those afflicted.

[ 1, 7 ]

asteroid

Also sometimes referred to as minor planets, asteroids get their name from the Greek word asteroeidēs, "starlike" (astēr, "star" + eidos, "form").

Literally: "starlike"

[ 1, 3 ]

asterisk ( * )

Why is the small star used by writers and editors called an asterisk?

Asterisk ( * ) comes from the Greek word asteriskos, "small star," the diminutive form of astēr, "star."

Literally: "little star"

[ 1, 3 ]

alphabet

The word alphabet (originally alphabetum in Latin) is a compound of the first two letters in the Greek alphabet: alpha and bēta.

[ 1, 3 ]

anorexia nervosa

The word anorexia is actually a general term denoting a loss or lack of appetite (from Greek an "without" + orexis "appetite").

Anorexia nervosa, then, is more specific: "A condition marked by emaciation, etc., in which loss of appetite results from severe emotional disturbance."

[ 1 ]

aeroplane

Why do the British call it an aeroplane, while Americans use the slightly different airplane?

Aeroplane comes from Greek aéro- "air" + -planos "wandering" and was first used in reference to air travel in 1873.

The American spelling and pronunciation airplane did not gain popularity in the States until 1907, at which point it replaced the original aeroplane. Such divergence is natural and to be expected when two dialects are largely isolated from one another geographically.

[ 1, 7 ]