Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “heliotrope” come from?

Heliotrope derives from French héliotrope, from Ancient Greek ἡλιοτρόπιον, combining ἥλιος (sun) and a root from Proto-Indo-European trep- (turn) and sh₂wél(i)yos (sun).

heliotrope (English): A plant that turns so that it faces the sun; A...

Definitions

  1. A plant that turns so that it faces the sun; A...

Ancestry of “heliotrope”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchhéliotropeheliotrope
2Latinheliotropiumheliotrope
3Ancient Greekἡλιοτρόπιονheliotrope; sundial, solar clock; bloodstone, a...
4Ancient GreekἭλιοςsun
5Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
6Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
7Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
8Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

Words derived from “heliotrope”

  • heliotroper
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- →