Etymology

holistic (adj.)

1926, from holism (q.v.) + -istic. Holistic medicine is attested by 1960. Related: Holistically.

Entries linking to holistic

holism (n.)

1926, apparently coined by South African Gen. J.C. Smuts (1870-1950) in his book "Holism and Evolution" which treats of evolution as a process of unification of separate parts; from Greek holos "whole" (from PIE root *sol- "whole, well-kept") + -ism.

This character of "wholeness" meets us everywhere and points to something fundamental in the universe. Holism (from [holos] = whole) is the term here coined for this fundamental factor operative towards the creation of wholes in the universe. [Smuts, "Holism and Evolution," p.86]
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-istic 
adjectival word-forming element, from French -istique or directly from Latin -isticus, from Greek -istikos, a compound of the adjectival suffix -ikos (see -ic) + the noun suffix -istes (see -ist).
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wholistic (adj.)
1941, from holistic crossed with whole (adj.). Related: wholism (1939).
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Definitions of holistic from WordNet

holistic (adj.)
emphasizing the organic or functional relation between parts and the whole;
Etymologies are not definitions. From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near holistic

holiday

holier-than-thou

holily

holiness

holism

holistic

holla

Holland

hollandaise

Hollander

holler

updated on December 19, 2018

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper