Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-ectomy” come from?

-ectomy (English) comes from Ancient Greek ἐκτομή, from Ancient Greek ἐκτέμνω, from Ancient Greek τέμνω, from Proto-Indo-European -né- — Forms mostly transitive imperfective verbs from...

-ectomy (English): Excision of; Surgical removal of

Definitions

  1. Excision of; Surgical removal of

Ancestry of “-ectomy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekἐκτομήa cutting out; a segment
2Ancient Greekἐκτέμνωto cut out; to castrate; to divide, zone
3Ancient GreekτέμνωI cut, hew; I maim, wound; I butcher, sacrifice
4Proto-Indo-European-né-Forms mostly transitive imperfective verbs from...

Words derived from “-ectomy”

  • mastectomy
  • prostatectomy
  • nephrectomy
  • cholecystectomy
  • endarterectomy
  • splenectomy
  • thyroidectomy
  • vasectomy
  • laminectomy
  • lobectomy
  • vitrectomy
  • tonsillectomy
  • appendectomy
  • gastrectomy
  • lumpectomy
  • oophorectomy
  • colectomy
  • laryngectomy
  • adrenalectomy
  • pancreatectomy
  • thymectomy
  • cystectomy
  • myomectomy
  • discectomy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -né- →