Phenomenon

The Simple English Wiktionary has a definition for: phenomenon.

A phenomenon (Greek: φαινόμενo, pl. φαινόμενα) is an observable event or, quite literally, something that can be seen.^[1]

It comes from the noun φαινόμενον (phainomenon, df. appearance) and is also related to the verb φαινειν (phainein, df. to show). Its plural is phenomena. Its antonym is lathomenon, meaning "something lying beneath the surface".

Phenomenon can also mean a "surprising development" or "unusually successful person".^[2][3]

1. ↑ "Cambridge Online Dictionary: Phenomenon as observable event or object". Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
2. ↑ Phenomenon^{[permanent dead link]} at Wordnet
3. ↑ "Cambridge Online Dictionary: Phenomenon as success". Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2007-06-14.