Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “epi-” come from?

epi- (English) comes from Ancient Greek ἐπι-, from Ancient Greek ἐπί, from Ancient Greek Ἡμέρα, from Ancient Greek ἦμαρ, from Proto-Hellenic ā́mər, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃mr̥, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- — to be hot; to burn.

epi- (English): Above, over, on, in addition to

Definitions

  1. Above, over, on, in addition to

Ancestry of “epi-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
2Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
3Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
4Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
5Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn

Words derived from “epi-”

  • hypoxia
  • epigenetic
  • epoxy
  • oxygenation
  • epitope
  • anoxic
  • epiphysis
  • oxy
  • epicondyle
  • epicentre
  • deoxy
  • oxygenator
  • dehydroepiandrosterone
  • epicycloid
  • fluorodeoxyglucose
  • oxygenic
  • epiphenomenon
  • oxygenate
  • epiphenomenal
  • epigenesis
  • dioxygen
  • epiblast
  • anoxygenic
  • reoxygenation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →