limnetic

adjective lim·net·ic \ lim-ˈne-tik \

Definition of limnetic

: of, relating to, or inhabiting the open water of a body of fresh water

limnetic environment

Origin and Etymology of limnetic

probably from Greek limnḗtēs "living around lakes" (from límnē "standing water, pool, marshy lake" + -ētēs, extended form of -tēs, agent suffix) + ¹-ic, after German limnetisch; Greek límnē perhaps going back to an Indo-European paradigm *lei-mōn, accusative *li-men-m, genitive *li-mn-os, whence, with semantic and morphological differentiation, Greek leimṓn "damp tract of ground, moist meadow," limen-, limḗn "protected creek, harbor"

Note: Despite the apparent antiquity of the underlying paradigm, the etymon has no certain Indo-European congeners. It has been compared with Latin līmus "mud, mire," Old English slīm ¹slime (assuming an original sense "wetness") and, in a completely different direction, with Latin līmus "transverse, oblique," Old English lim "member, ¹limb" (assuming an original sense, "something bent in, depression").

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1899

in the meaning defined above

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