Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cathepsin” come from?

Cathepsin comes from German Kathepsin, from Ancient Greek καθέψω, meaning to digest or break down.

cathepsin (English): Any of a family of proteases primarily active...

Definitions

  1. Any of a family of proteases primarily active...

Ancestry of “cathepsin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKathepsin—
2Ancient Greekκαθέψωboil down
3Ancient Greekκατά
4Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
5Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
6Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “cathepsin”

  • procathepsin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →