epiphenomenon

Meaning

Noun

• An activity, process, or state that is the result of another; a by-product, a consequence.
• A mental process or state that is an incidental by-product of physiological events in the brain or nervous system.
• A symptom that develops during the course of a disease that is not connected to the disease.

Origin

• . Phenomenon is derived from Late Latin phaenomenon, Latin *phaenomenon (only attested in the plural form phaenomena), from Ancient Greek φαινόμενον, a noun use of the neuter singular form of φαινόμενος, the present middle voice or passive participle of φαίνω, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-.
• The plural epiphenomena is derived from epi- + phenomena.