Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-cline” come from?

-cline (English) comes from English -clinal, from Ancient Greek κλίνω, from Proto-Indo-European ḱley-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

-cline (English): A specified form of slope or gradation

Definitions

  1. A specified form of slope or gradation

Ancestry of “-cline”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-clinalAPI; having a specified slope
2Ancient Greekκλίνωto bend, slant; to cause to give way, cause to...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱley-to shelter, cover; to lean, slope, incline
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “-cline”

  • thermocline
  • anticline
  • anticlinal
  • syncline
  • microcline
  • halocline
  • isocline
  • pycnocline
  • monocline
  • chemocline
  • lysocline
  • anticlinally
  • pericline
  • nitracline
  • oxycline
  • geanticline
  • ecocline
  • geanticlinal
  • ecoclinal
  • thermohalocline
  • epicline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →