Where does “cata-” come from?
cata- (English) comes from Ancient Greek κᾰτᾰ-, from Ancient Greek κατά, from Ancient Greek καταστερίζω, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ, from Proto-Hellenic astḗr, from Proto-Indo-European h₂stḗr, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.
cata- (English): down; reverse, backward, degenerative
Definitions
- down; reverse, backward, degenerative
Ancestry of “cata-”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | κᾰτᾰ- | fully; down; denoting motion downwards |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | κατά | |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | καταστερίζω | to place among the stars; I put among the stars |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | a celestial body; illustrious person; starfish |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | astḗr | star |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂stḗr | star |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |