Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-poly” come from?

-poly (English) comes from Ancient Greek πωλέω, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

-poly (English): Pertaining to the number of sellers in a market;...

Definitions

  1. Pertaining to the number of sellers in a market;...

Ancestry of “-poly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekπωλέωI sell
2Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

Words derived from “-poly”

  • technopoly
  • bibliopoly
  • confusopoly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →