Etymology Explorer › Ancient Greek

Where does “καταράκτης” come from?

καταράκτης (Ancient Greek) comes from Ancient Greek καταράσσω, from Ancient Greek κατα-, from Ancient Greek κατά, from Ancient Greek καταστερίζω, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ, from Proto-Hellenic astḗr, from Proto-Indo-European h₂stḗr, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.

Ancestry of “καταράκτης”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekκαταράσσωI pour down; pour down
2Ancient Greekκατα-back; downwards; against
3Ancient Greekκατά
4Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
5Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
6Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “καταράκτης”

  • cataract
  • cataractous
  • cataractogenesis
  • cataracted
  • cataractogenic
  • postcataract
  • aftercataract
  • anticataract
  • cataractogenous
  • cataracta
  • catarata
  • catarata
  • cataract
  • cataracta
  • cateract
  • cataract
  • katarak
  • cataracte
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →