Where does “helicase” come from?
Helicase comes from English helix and English diastase, from Ancient Greek διάστασις meaning separation, derived from διά and δισα, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European stéh₂tis and steh₂-.
helicase (English): An enzyme required for DNA unwinding
Definitions
- An enzyme required for DNA unwinding
Ancestry of “helicase”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | helix | A curve on the surface of a cylinder or cone such... |
| 2 | Latin | helīx | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἕλιξ | Anything twisted, winding, or spiral; The tendril... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πτερόν | feather; wing; Any winged creature |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | péth₂r̥ | wing; feather |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | peth₂- | to spread out; to fly |