Where does “duosyllabic” come from?

duosyllabic (English) comes from English duosyllable, from English syllable, from Middle English syllable, from Anglo-Norman sillable, from Old French sillebe, from Latin syllaba, from Ancient Greek συλλαβή, from Ancient Greek συλλαμβάνω — beside, with.

duosyllabic (English): Comprising two syllables; bisyllabic

Definitions

  1. Comprising two syllables; bisyllabic

Ancestry of “duosyllabic”, step by step

duosyllabic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English duosyllable

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishduosyllableA word containing two syllables
2EnglishsyllableA unit of human speech that is interpreted by the...
3Middle Englishsyllable
4Anglo-Normansillablesyllable
5Old Frenchsillebe
6Latinsyllabasyllable; poems, verses
7Ancient Greekσυλλαβήconception, pregnancy; that which holds together,...
8Ancient GreekσυλλαμβάνωI collect, gather; I rally; I take hold of,...
9Ancient Greekσῠν-together; with, together
10Ancient Greekσύνbeside, with
11Proto-Hellenic*ksúnbeside, with

via English ic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishicrelated or pertaining to; having the character of
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *ksúnEvery word from Ancient Greek σῠν-Every word from Ancient Greek συλλαμβάνω
duosyllabic — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer