Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “centrum” come from?

Centrum comes from Latin centrum, derived from Ancient Greek κέντρον, from the verb κεντεῖν meaning to prick or pierce, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱent-.

centrum (English): A center; The central body of a vertebra; the...

Definitions

  1. A center; The central body of a vertebra; the...

Ancestry of “centrum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincentrumcenter ; centre
2Ancient GreekκέντρονSomething with a sharp point: point, spike, spur;...
3Proto-Hellenic*kéntron—
4Proto-Indo-European*ḱéntrom—

Words derived from “centrum”

  • intercentrum
  • pleurocentrum
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *ḱéntrom →