Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “diphosphorus” come from?

diphosphorus (English) comes from English Phosphorus, from Latin phōsphorus, from Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος, from Ancient Greek -φόρος, from Ancient Greek φέρω, from Proto-Hellenic pʰérō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

diphosphorus (English): two atoms of phosphorus in a compound

Definitions

  1. two atoms of phosphorus in a compound

Ancestry of “diphosphorus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPhosphorus—
2Latinphōsphorus—
3Ancient GreekΦωσφόροςthe bearer of light
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 bʰēr- →