Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Cornelian” come from?

Cornelian (English) comes from Old French corneline, from Latin Cornus, from Ancient Greek κορμός, from Ancient Greek κείρω, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kér-ye-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.

Cornelian (English): Pertaining to Pierre Corneille, or characteristic...

Definitions

  1. Pertaining to Pierre Corneille, or characteristic...

Ancestry of “Cornelian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchcorneline—
2LatinCornus—
3Ancient Greekκορμόςtrunk of a tree; log of timber
4Ancient GreekκείρωI shear, shave, cut hair short; I ravage, waste;...
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kér-ye-—
6Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →