Where does “cyber” come from?
Cyber derives from English cybernetics, from Ancient Greek κυβερνητικός, relating to κυβερνητική τέχνη (the art of steering or governing), from κυβερνισμός (steersmanship), formed with the Ancient Greek suffix -σις and -τις, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -tis.
cyber (English): Of, or having to do with, the Internet;...
Definitions
- Of, or having to do with, the Internet;...
Ancestry of “cyber”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | cybernetics | The theory/science of communication and control... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | κυβερνήτης | captain, steersman, pilot, navigator; guide,... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | -τής | Appended to verbs to form agent nouns |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πεῖρα | trial, experiment, attempt |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |