Where does “antarctic” come from?
Antarctic comes from Middle English antartyk, from Old French antartique, from Latin antarcticus, from Ancient Greek ἀνταρκτικός, formed from ἀντί meaning "opposite" and the suffix -ικός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-.
antarctic (English): Alternative spelling of Antarctic
Definitions
- Alternative spelling of Antarctic
Ancestry of “antarctic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Antarctic | Of, from, or pertaining to Antarctica and the... |
| 2 | Middle English | antartik | — |
| 3 | Old French | antartique | — |
| 4 | Latin | antarcticus | southern; Antarctic |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἀνταρκτικός | antarctic |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀρκτικός | having to do with the Great Bear; northern lands;... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -ικός | of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | -κός | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -ḱos | -y, -ic |