Where does “climacteric” come from?
Climacteric derives from Latin climactericus, from Ancient Greek κλιμακτηρικός, formed with the suffix -ικός from κλῖμαξ meaning ladder or critical stage, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root ḱel- meaning to lean or incline.
climacteric (English): Pertaining to any of several supposedly critical...
Definitions
- Pertaining to any of several supposedly critical...
Ancestry of “climacteric”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | clīmactēricus | of or pertaining to a dangerous epoch in life, climacteric |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | κλιμακτηρικός | climacteric |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | κλῖμαξ | ladder; staircase; torture instrument shaped like... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κλίνω | to bend, slant; to cause to give way, cause to... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱley- | to shelter, cover; to lean, slope, incline |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |