Where does “Paleozoic” come from?

Paleozoic comes from Ancient Greek παλαιός meaning old and ζῷον meaning animal, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷeyh₃- meaning to live.

Paleozoic (English): Of a geologic era within the Phanerozoic eon that...

Definitions

  1. Of a geologic era within the Phanerozoic eon that...

Ancestry of “Paleozoic”, step by step

Paleozoic traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English zoic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishzoicShowing traces of life; containing organic...
2Ancient Greekζωϊκόςof or pertaining to animals
3Ancient Greekζῷονanimal, beast; form, image
4Proto-Hellenicďṓyyonanimal, creature, beast
5Proto-Hellenicgʷyōwyon
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʷyeh₃w-y-om
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷíh₃wetito live, to be alive
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʷih₃wósalive, living
9Proto-Indo-Europeangʷeih₃w-to live

via English paleo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpaleoClipping of paleodiet
2Hawaiianleovoice; sound; command; verbal message
3Proto-Polynesianleovoice; language; speech
4Proto-Oceanicleqo
5Proto-Oceanic*(qa-)liqoʀthroat front part of the neck
6Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian*liqəʀ
7Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian*liqəʀ
8Proto-Malayo-Polynesianliqəʀneck
9Proto-Austronesianliqəʀneck

via French paléozoïque

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchpaléozoïquePaleozoic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷeih₃w-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷih₃wósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European gʷíh₃weti