Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Precambrian” come from?

Precambrian derives from English Cambrian, English Cambria, Latin prae meaning "before," and Latin -anus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per-.

Precambrian (English): Relating to the time and geology dated before the...

Definitions

  1. Relating to the time and geology dated before the...

Ancestry of “Precambrian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCambrianOf a geologic period within the Paleozoic era;...
2EnglishCambria—
3LatinCambriaWales
4Proto-Brythonickömrüɣ—
5Proto-Brythonickömroɣcompatriot, comrade
6Proto-Brythonicbrogoscountry
7Proto-Celticmrogisborder, borderland, march, mark; region, country,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmorǵ-edge, boundary, border; frontier, border
Every word from Proto-Indo-European morǵ- →