photosynthesis 的词源

到1895年，Photosynthese这个德语词被借译过来，构成方式是：photo-意为“光”（参见photo-），加上synthese意为“合成”（参见synthesis）。相关词汇还有Photosynthetic。早期还有一个词叫photosyntax。

[T]he body of the work has been rendered into English with fidelity, the only change of moment being the substitution of the word "photosynthesis" for that of "assimilation." This change follows from a suggestion by Dr. Barnes, made a year ago before the American Association at Madison, who clearly pointed out the need of a distinctive term for the synthetical process in plants, brought about by protoplasm in the presence of chlorophyll and light. He proposed the word "photosyntax," which met with favor. In the discussion Professor MacMillan suggested the word "photosynthesis," as etymologically more satisfactory and accurate, a claim which Dr. Barnes showed could not be maintained. The suggestion of Dr. Barnes not only received tacit acceptance by the botanists of the association, but was practically approved by the Madison Congress in the course of a discussion upon this point. [The Botanical Gazette, vol. xix, 1894]

[这项工作的主体部分已经忠实地翻译成英语，唯一重要的变化是将“assimilation”一词替换为“photosynthesis”。这一变化源于巴恩斯博士一年前在麦迪逊的美国协会会议上提出的建议，他明确指出需要一个独特的术语来描述植物中由原生质在叶绿素和光的作用下进行的合成过程。他提议使用“photosyntax”这个词，得到了认可。在讨论中，麦克米伦教授建议使用“photosynthesis”，认为这个词在词源上更令人满意且更准确，但巴恩斯博士证明这一说法无法成立。巴恩斯博士的建议不仅得到了与会植物学家的默许，还在麦迪逊大会的讨论中得到了实际的认可。[《植物学公报》，第19卷，1894年]