Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “biannually” come from?

biannually (English) comes from English biannual, from English bi-, from Ancient Greek βίος, from Ancient Greek Γένεσις, from Proto-Hellenic génetis, from Proto-Indo-European ǵénh₁tis, from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- — to produce, to beget, to give birth.

biannually (English): Taking place twice per year, semiannually; Taking...

Definitions

  1. Taking place twice per year, semiannually; Taking...

Ancestry of “biannually”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbiannualOccurring twice a year; semiannual; Occurring...
2Englishbi-API; two, paired, both; half
3Ancient Greekβίοςlife
4Ancient GreekΓένεσις—
5Proto-Hellenicgénetisorigin, source
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵénh₁tisbirth, production
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- →