What is the origin of word stimuli?

The word "stimuli" is the plural form of the Latin word "stimulus," which means "a goad, a spur, an incentive."

Here's a breakdown of its etymology:

* Latin "stimulus" - This is the original source of the word. It likely came from the verb "stinguere" which means "to prick, to sting."

* Medieval Latin "stimulus" - The word was adopted into Medieval Latin, a language used for scientific and scholarly purposes in the Middle Ages. It still carried the meaning of "goad" or "spur."

* English "stimulus" - The word was borrowed into English around the 16th century and initially retained its meaning of "goad" or "incentive."

* English "stimuli" - The plural form "stimuli" emerged as the word was applied to the broader concept of things that cause a response in organisms, like sensory inputs.

So, the word "stimuli" traces back to a Latin word that described something that "pricks" or "stirs." It was then adopted into English to describe anything that prompts a reaction or a response, particularly in the context of biological or psychological processes.