Where does “cablegram” come from?
Cablegram comes from English cable and Ancient Greek -γράμμα, derived from Ancient Greek γράμμα meaning "written character," from Ancient Greek γράφω meaning "to write," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ger- meaning "to scratch."
cablegram (English): A telegram transmitted via a submarine cable; To...
Definitions
- A telegram transmitted via a submarine cable; To...
Ancestry of “cablegram”, step by step
cablegram traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English cable
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | cable | A long object used to make a physical connection;... |
| 2 | Middle English | cable | A cable or strong rope; Any kind of rope or... |
| 3 | Old Northern French | cable | — |
| 4 | Latin | capulum | handle; hilt; halter, lasso |
| 5 | Latin | capiō | to take, to capture, to catch, to seize, to take captive, to storm |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kapiō | take |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | kapjō | take, seize |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kh₂pyéti | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂p- | to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,... |
via English Gram
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Gram | Clipping of Instagram |
| 2 | French | gramme | gram |
| 3 | Latin | gramma | gram |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | γράμμα | that which is written, that which is drawn,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | γράφω | to scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | grəpʰō | to scratch, cut or carve into |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gerbʰ- | to carve |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |