Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ephedrine” come from?

Ephedrine derives from English ephedra, from Ancient Greek ἐφέδρα, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sed- meaning "to sit," with the -no- suffix forming an agent noun.

ephedrine (English): A crystalline alkaloid drug CHNO obtained from a...

Definitions

  1. A crystalline alkaloid drug CHNO obtained from a...

Ancestry of “ephedrine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishephedraAny plant of the genus "Ephedra" of gymnosperm...
2Ancient Greekἐφέδραsitting by or before a place; siege, blockade;...
3Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
4Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
5Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
6Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
7Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn

Words derived from “ephedrine”

  • pseudoephedrine
  • propylhexedrine
  • desoxyephedrine
  • phenylephedrine
  • racephedrine
  • levodesoxyephedrine
  • ethylephedrine
  • levopropylhexedrine
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →