Where does “herpetophobia” come from?

herpetophobia (English) comes from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν, from Ancient Greek ἕρπω, from Proto-Indo-European *sérpeti — to be creeping, to be crawling.

herpetophobia (English): Fear of reptiles, amphibians, and similar animals

Definitions

  1. Fear of reptiles, amphibians, and similar animals

Ancestry of “herpetophobia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekἑρπετόνAny animal which walks on four legs; creeping...
2Ancient Greekἕρπωto move slowly, walk; crawl, creep, slink; I go...
3Proto-Indo-European*sérpetito be creeping, to be crawling
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *sérpeti →Every word from Ancient Greek ἕρπω →Every word from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν →