An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The degree of → magnetization of a material that responds linearly to an applied magnetic field. → magnetic permeability.

Etymology (EN): From permeable, from L. permeabilis “that can be passed through, passable,” from L. permeare “to pass through,” from per- “through”

• meare “to pass,” from PIE base *mei- “to change; to go, move.”

Etymology (PE): Tarâvâyi quality noun of tarâvâ “permeable,” from tarâvidan “to exude, trickle, ooze; to drop,” probably from Proto-Iranian *tra-vaxš-. The first component *tra- “across, over, beyond,” → trans-. The second component *vaxš-, cf. Av. uxš-/vaxš- “to sprinkle,” present tense stem uxš-; cf. Skt. uks- “to sprinkle, moisten,” uksati “spinkles, wets;” Gk. hygros “wet, moist, fluid;” L. uvidus “watery, humid, damp.” Tarâvidan may be a back formation from *tarâvaš.