Where does “element” come from?
Element comes from Middle English element, from Old French element, from Latin elementum, originally denoting a basic constituent or rudimentary principle.
element (English): One of the simplest or essential parts or...
Definitions
- One of the simplest or essential parts or...
Ancestry of “element”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | element | — |
| 2 | Old French | element | — |
| 3 | Latin | elementum | one of four elements that composed the world;... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | στοιχεῖον | one of a row; one of a series, a component part,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | στοῖχος | row in an ascending series; a line of poles... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | stóikʰos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | stóygʰ-os | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | steygʰ- | to go; to climb |