Where does “astronaut” come from?
astronaut (Dutch) comes from English astronaut, from English astro-, from Ancient Greek ἄστρον, 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.
astronaut (Dutch): astronaut
Ancestry of “astronaut”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | astronaut | A member of the crew of a spaceship or other... |
| 2 | English | astro- | celestial bodies: fixed stars, wandering stars ,... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἄστρον | A celestial body |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | a celestial body; illustrious person; starfish |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | astḗr | star |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂stḗr | star |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |