Where does “amphibian” come from?
Amphibian derives from Ancient Greek ἀμφίβιον, composed of ἀμφί- (both) and βίος (life), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷih₃wós (living creature) and h₂en- (to be).
amphibian (English): Of or relating to the class Amphibia; Capable of...
Definitions
- Of or relating to the class Amphibia; Capable of...
Ancestry of “amphibian”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | amphibius | amphibious |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἀμφίβιον | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | βίος | life |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Γένεσις | Genesis. The title of the first book of the Bible and Pentateuch as in the Septuagint translation in Greek |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | génetis | origin, source |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵénh₁tis | birth, production |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵenh₁- | to produce, to beget, to give birth |