Where does “astronaut” come from?
Astronaut derives from Ancient Greek ἄστρον and ἀστήρ, both meaning star, tracing back through Proto-Indo-European h₂stḗr to the root h₂eHs-.
astronaut (English): A member of the crew of a spaceship or other...
Definitions
- A member of the crew of a spaceship or other...
Ancestry of “astronaut”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | astro- | celestial bodies: fixed stars, wandering stars (planets), etc.; space; astronomy |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἄστρον | A celestial body |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | a celestial body; illustrious person; starfish |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | astḗr | star |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂stḗr | star |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |