Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “colonoscopy” come from?

Colonoscopy derives from English colon and Ancient Greek σκοπέω, σκοπός, and σκέπτομαι, tracing to Proto-Indo-European kʷel-.

colonoscopy (English): The examination of the colon using a colonoscope

Definitions

  1. The examination of the colon using a colonoscope

Ancestry of “colonoscopy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-scopyobservation, viewing
2Ancient GreekσκοπέωI look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413...
3Ancient Greekσκοπόςwatcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout
4Ancient GreekσκέπτομαιI look at, examine; I examine, consider, think
5Proto-Hellenicsképťomaito look at
6Proto-Indo-Europeanspéḱyetito be looking at, to keep looking at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanspeḱ-to see, to look, to observe

Words derived from “colonoscopy”

  • colonoscopic
  • ileocolonoscopy
  • colonoscopist
  • colonoscopically
  • ileocolonoscopic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European speḱ- →