Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “astronomy” come from?

Astronomy comes from Middle English astronemy, from Old French astronomie, from Latin astronomia, from Ancient Greek ἀστρον and νόμος, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂stḗr meaning star.

astronomy (English): The study of the physical universe beyond the...

Definitions

  1. The study of the physical universe beyond the...

Ancestry of “astronomy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishastronomie—
2Old Frenchastronomieastronomy
3Latinastronomiaastronomy
4Ancient Greekἀστρονομίαastronomy
5Ancient GreekἄστρονA celestial body
6Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
7Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “astronomy”

  • ethnoastronomy
  • astronomist
  • bioastronomy
  • astronomess
  • paleoastronomy
  • astronomick
  • archaeastronomy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →