Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “erythromycin” come from?

Erythromycin comes from Ancient Greek erythro- meaning "red," combined with -mycin from mycete meaning "fungus," via Latin intermediates.

erythromycin (English): Any of a class of macrolide antibiotics produced...

Definitions

  1. Any of a class of macrolide antibiotics produced...

Ancestry of “erythromycin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English‐o‐—
2English-prim—
3EnglishtrimethoprimA synthetic antibiotic used to treat malaria and...
4EnglishtrimethoxyThree methoxy groups in a molecule
5EnglishmethoxyThe univalent radical CH-O- derived from methanol
6Englishoxy-Sharp, keen, acute, pungent, acid; Concerning...
7EnglishoxygenThe chemical element with an atomic number of 8...
8Frenchoxygèneoxygen; inflection of oxygéner: ##...
9Ancient Greekγένοςoffspring, descendant; family, clan; nation, race
10Proto-Hellenicgénosfamily; race
11Proto-Indo-Europeanǵénh₁osrace, lineage
12Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth

Words derived from “erythromycin”

  • azaerythromycin
  • oxoerythromycin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- →