Where does “amalgamable” come from?
amalgamable (English) comes from English amalgam, from Medieval Latin amalgama, from Arabic اَلْمَلْغَم, from Ancient Greek μάλαγμα, from Ancient Greek μαλάσσω, from Ancient Greek μαλακός, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
amalgamable (English): capable of being amalgamated
Definitions
- capable of being amalgamated
Ancestry of “amalgamable”, step by step
amalgamable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English amalgam
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | amalgam | An alloy containing mercury; A combination of... |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | amalgama | mercury alloy; amalgam |
| 3 | Arabic | اَلْمَلْغَم | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | μάλαγμα | An emollient, a cataplasm; A padding used in... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μαλάσσω | to soften; to make soft; soften |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μαλακός | soft, tender; gentle; soft, mild, gentle |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via English able
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | able | Easy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to |
| 2 | Middle English | able | capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent |
| 3 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 4 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |