An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A sudden, random change in the genetic material of a cell. → commute.

Etymology (EN): From L. mutationem (nominative mutatio) “a changing,” from mutatus, p.p. of mutare “to change,” from PIE base *mei- “to change, go, move;” cf. Av. miθô “inverted, false,” miθaoxta-
“wrong spoken;” Skt. methati “changes, alternates,
joins, meets,” mith- “to alternate, meet,” mithás “opposite, in opposition;” L. meare
“to go, pass,” mutuus “done in exchange;” Goth.
maidjan “to change;” E. prefix mis- (in mistake).

Etymology (PE): Muteš, verbal noun of mutidan,
from L. mutare, cognate with Av. miθô, as above,

• -idan infinitive suffix.