Where does “dimethyl” come from?

Dimethyl comes from English di- and methyl, where methyl derives from Ancient Greek διά and μέθυ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwís and dwóh₁.

dimethyl (English): Two methyl groups in a molecule

Definitions

  1. Two methyl groups in a molecule

Ancestry of “dimethyl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishdi-API; two, twice, or double; Alternative form of...
2Latindī-Two, double; di
3Ancient Greekδί-Twice, double
4Ancient Greekδιάthroughout
5Proto-Indo-Europeandwístwice, doubly; in two
6Proto-Indo-Europeandwóh₁two

Words derived from “dimethyl

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁
dimethyl — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer