Here's how it evolved:
1. Ancient Greek: The original meaning of "klima" referred to the inclination of the Earth's axis relative to the sun, which determines the angle at which sunlight hits different regions of the planet.
2. Early Modern English: The term was later adopted into English, and its meaning shifted to refer to the overall weather patterns of a particular region, influenced by factors like latitude, altitude, and proximity to water.
3. Modern English: Today, "climate" encompasses the long-term average weather conditions in a specific location, including temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind patterns, and more.
Essentially, the word "climate" reflects how the slope or inclination of the Earth's axis affects the distribution of sunlight and ultimately influences the weather patterns and overall climate of different parts of the world.