photosynthesis（n.）
1895年，德语 Photosynthese 的借译词，由 photo- “光”（见 photo-)和 synthese “合成”（见 synthesis）组成。相关词汇： Photosynthetic。另一个早期的词是 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]
“这部作品的主体已经被忠实地翻译成英语，唯一的重要变化是用“photosynthesis”代替“assimilation”这个词。这个变化源于巴恩斯博士在一年前在麦迪逊的美国协会上提出的建议，他清楚地指出了植物中由原生质在叶绿素和光的存在下引起的合成过程需要一个独特的术语。他提出了“photosyntax”这个词，得到了赞同。在讨论中，麦克米兰教授提出了“photosynthesis”这个词，从词源上更加令人满意和准确，这一点巴恩斯博士表明是无法维护的。巴恩斯博士的建议不仅得到了协会植物学家的默许，而且在关于这一点的讨论中，麦迪逊国会实际上也批准了这个建议。[植物学杂志，第19卷，1894年]
该词起源时间：1895年