How did stalagmites and stalactites get their names?

Question

This is for a school report.


Much appreciated, thanks!

Answer 1

Both stalagmite and stalactite come from the greek words σταλαγμίτης, σταλακτίτης (stalagmeetis, stalakteetis), both from the verb σταλάζω (stalazo) =drop, drip. The gm combination is a common trait of certain past tense verb forms (a stalagma, a magma, an enigma would be something that has happened in the way the verb it comes from shows). The kt combination is related to present tenses. So a stalagmite is a formation from already dropped "liquids", and stalactite is a formation-to-be, or something like that. I do not know who and how named them so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stalaktite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stalagmite

Answer 2

Stalactite: [New Latin stalactītēs, from Greek stalaktos, dripping, from stalassein, stalak-, to drip.]

Stalagmite: [New Latin stalagmītēs, a drop, from Greek stalagma, a drop, or stalagmos, dropping, both from stalassein, stalak-, to drip.]