Where does “asymmetrical” come from?
Asymmetrical comes from English a- combined with symmetrical, which derives from Latin ad- and Latin ad meaning "toward," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂epo and al-.
asymmetrical (English): Not symmetrical; Presenting a false dilemma, or a...
Definitions
- Not symmetrical; Presenting a false dilemma, or a...
Ancestry of “asymmetrical”, step by step
asymmetrical traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English symmetrical
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | symmetrical | Exhibiting symmetry; having harmonious or... |
| 2 | English | symmetry | Exact correspondence on either side of a dividing... |
| 3 | Latin | symmetria | symmetry, proportion |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | συμμετρία | commensurability; symmetry, due proportion; a... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | σύμμετρος | symmetrical |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μέτρον | something used to measure: measure, rule, weight;... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -τρον | Forms instrument nouns |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | -tron | Forms instrument nouns from verb stems |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -trom | Forms nouns denoting a tool or instrument |
via English A
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | A | The ordinal number first, derived from this... |
| 2 | English | AND | Alternative form of ∧, the conjunction operator;... |
| 3 | Middle English | and | and, and then; however, yet, but, though. while;... |
| 4 | Old English | and | and; even; also |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | andi | in addition, furthermore, and |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énti | opposite; near; in front |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |