gignomenon

Meanings

1. "Becoming," as opposed to "Being"; a phenomenon considered as occurrence rather than appearance.
2. By extension, that which is ephemeral or inessential.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek γιγνόμενον (gignómenon, “thing which is becoming”), neuter present middle participle of γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “I become”). Compare Timaeus 38B: τό τε γεγονὸς εἶναι γεγονὸς καὶ τὸ γιγνόμενον εἶναι γιγνόμενον, ἔτι τε τὸ γενησόμενον εἶναι γενησόμενον (tó te gegonòs eînai gegonòs kaì tò gignómenon eînai gignómenon, éti te tò genēsómenon eînai genēsómenon, “what is become is become, and what is becoming is becoming, and what is about to become is about to become”) (translated by Bernadotte Perrin)