Where does “spectrum” come from?

spectrum (Dutch) comes from Latin spectrum, from Ancient Greek σκοπέω, from Ancient Greek σκοπός, from Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι, from Proto-Hellenic sképťomai, from Proto-Indo-European spéḱyeti, from Proto-Indo-European speḱ- — to see, to look, to observe.

spectrum (Dutch): spectrum

Definitions

  1. spectrum

Ancestry of “spectrum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinspectrumappearance, image; apparition, specter
2Ancient GreekσκοπέωI look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413...
3Ancient Greekσκοπόςwatcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout
4Ancient GreekσκέπτομαιI look at, examine; I examine, consider, think
5Proto-Hellenicsképťomaito look at
6Proto-Indo-Europeanspéḱyetito be looking at, to keep looking at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanspeḱ-to see, to look, to observe

Words derived from “spectrum

Every word from Proto-Indo-European speḱ-
spectrum — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer