Etymology Explorer › Ecclesiastical Latin

Where does “catechumenus” come from?

catechumenus (Ecclesiastical Latin) comes from Ancient Greek κατηχούμενος, from Ancient Greek κατηχέω, from Ancient Greek κᾰτᾰ-, from Ancient Greek κατά, from Ancient Greek καταστερίζω, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ, from Proto-Hellenic astḗr, from Proto-Indo-European h₂stḗr — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.

Ancestry of “catechumenus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκατηχούμενοςbeing instructed
2Ancient Greekκατηχέωto resound; to teach by word of mouth
3Ancient Greekκᾰτᾰ-fully; down; denoting motion downwards
4Ancient Greekκατά
5Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
6Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
7Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “catechumenus”

  • catechumen
  • catechumenate
  • catechumenist
  • catéchumène
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →