Where does “bacteriophage” come from?

Bacteriophage derives from French bactériophage, combining English bacterio- with Latin -phagus from Ancient Greek φάγος, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed- meaning to eat.

bacteriophage (English): A virus that specifically infects bacteria

Definitions

  1. A virus that specifically infects bacteria

Ancestry of “bacteriophage”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchbactériophagebacteriophagous; bacteriophage
2French-phagephage
3Latin-phagus—
4Ancient Greekφάγοςglutton
5Ancient Greekφαγεῖνaorist active infinitive of ἔφαγον
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰh₂g-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂g-to divide, distribute, allot

Words derived from “bacteriophage”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂g- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰh₂g- →Every word from Ancient Greek φαγεῖν →