Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dielectric” come from?

Dielectric comes from English electric combined with Ancient Greek δια- (dia-, meaning through) from Ancient Greek διά (diá, through), ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ through the formants -kos, dwís, and dwi-.

dielectric (English): An electrically insulating or nonconducting...

Definitions

  1. An electrically insulating or nonconducting...

Ancestry of “dielectric”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishelectricOf, relating to, produced by, operated with, or...
2English-allyAlternative form of -ly , used with adjectives in...
3EnglishahistoricSynonym of ahistorical
4EnglishhistoricVery important; noteworthy: having importance or...
5Latinhistoricushistorical
6Latinhistoriahistory; account; story
7Ancient Greekἱστορίαinquiry, examination, systematic observation,...
8Ancient Greekἱστορέωto inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,...
9Ancient Greekἵστωρone who knows law and right, judge; witness; a...
10Proto-Hellenicwístōr—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanwéydtōrone who has seen, one who knows
12Indo-European*weyd-—

Words derived from “dielectric”

  • dielectrically
  • magnetodielectric
  • metallodielectric
  • nondielectric
  • nanodielectric
Every word from Indo-European *weyd- →