Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ferrocyanide” come from?

Ferrocyanide is a compound noun combining ferro- with cyanide, which derives from Ancient Greek κυάνεος meaning dark blue, via the English suffix -ide.

ferrocyanide (English): The complex ion Fe; any salt containing this ion;...

Definitions

  1. The complex ion Fe; any salt containing this ion;...

Ancestry of “ferrocyanide”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishferro-iron; ferrous
2Latinferrumiron; any tool made of iron; fight, clash
3Cornish-er—
4English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
5Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
6Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
7Latin-āre—
8Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
9Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
10Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
11Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
12Chichewaiyehe, she
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