Where does “ctenophorous” come from?

ctenophorous (English) comes from English ous, from English ou, from Afrikaans ou, from Dutch oud, from Middle Dutch out, from Old Dutch ald, from Proto-West Germanic ald, from Proto-Germanic aldaz — to grow, nourish.

ctenophorous (English): Of or relating to the ctenophores

Definitions

  1. Of or relating to the ctenophores

Ancestry of “ctenophorous”, step by step

ctenophorous traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ous

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishousplural of ou
2EnglishouA probably extinct species of Hawaiian...
3AfrikaansouAn old fellow, guy, bloke; attributive form of...
4Dutchoudold
5Middle Dutchoutold
6Old Dutchald
7Proto-West Germanicaldold
8Proto-Germanicaldazold, grown up
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eltós
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish

via English ctenophore

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishctenophoreAny of various marine animals of the phylum...
2English-phoreBearer, carrier or conveyor
3New Latin-phorus
4Ancient Greek-φόρος-bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing
5Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
6Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eltósEvery word from Proto-Germanic aldaz