Where does “confocal” come from?

Confocal comes from the prefix con- combined with focal, ultimately deriving from Latin com meaning "together."

confocal (English): Having the same foci; Any of a pair of confocal...

Definitions

  1. Having the same foci; Any of a pair of confocal...

Ancestry of “confocal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishcon-used with certain words to add a notion similar...
2Middle Englishcon-con
3Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
4Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
5Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
6Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt
10Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
11Old High Germankuti
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “confocal

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-Every word from Latin cōn-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet-
confocal — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer