Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cell” come from?

Cell derives from English cellular, which combines English phone from Ancient Greek φωνή meaning "voice" and Proto-Indo-European ḱel- meaning "to call."

cell (English): A single-room dwelling for a hermit; A small...

Definitions

  1. A single-room dwelling for a hermit; A small...

Ancestry of “cell”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishcell phoneA portable, wireless telephone, which changes...
2Englishcellular phoneA mobile phone using cellular technology; A...
3EnglishphoneA device for transmitting conversations and other...
4EnglishtelephoneA telecommunication device used for two-way...
5Frenchtéléphonetelephone; first-person singular present...
6Frenchtélé-tele-
7Ancient Greekτῆλεfar off, afar, far away
8Latincommūnicāre—
9Latincommūnis—
10Old Latincom(m)oinis—
11Proto-Italickommoinis—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
13Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
14Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
15Middle Englishkyt—
16Germankitt—
17Old High Germankuti—
18Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
19Proto-Germanickweduzresin

Words derived from “cell”

  • celled
  • cellmate
  • supercell
  • cellblock
  • photocell
  • multicelled
  • macrocell
  • multicell
  • microcell
  • celling
  • protocell
  • subcell
  • intercell
  • geocell
  • picocell
  • celly
  • cellie
  • intracell
  • noncell
  • cellbound
  • unicell
  • hypercell
  • minicell
  • unicelled
Every word from Proto-Germanic kweduz →