epiphenomenon

Meanings

1. An activity, process, or state that is the result of another; a by-product, a consequence.
2. A mental process or state that is an incidental by-product of physiological events in the brain or nervous system.
3. A symptom that develops during the course of a disease that is not connected to the disease.

Etymology

PIE word *h₁epi From epi- (prefix meaning ‘above, on, over; in addition to’) + phenomenon. Phenomenon is derived from Late Latin phaenomenon (“appearance”), from Ancient Greek φαινόμενον (phainómenon, “thing that appears in one’s view; appearance; phenomenon”), a noun use of the neuter singular form of φαινόμενος (phainómenos), the present middle or passive participle of φαίνω (phaínō, “to cause to appear; to reveal, show, uncover; to expound”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to glow with light, to shine”).