Where does “heterodimer” come from?
Heterodimer comes from English hetero- and English dimer, which derives from English di- and Ancient Greek διά meaning "through," combined with Ancient Greek μείρομαι meaning "to divide," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)mer- and dwóh₁ meaning "two."
heterodimer (English): A dimer, especially a biologically active one,...
Definitions
- A dimer, especially a biologically active one,...
Ancestry of “heterodimer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | dimer | A molecule consisting of two identical halves,... |
| 2 | English | mer | A repeat unit: a structural unit which through... |
| 3 | English | polymer | A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain... |
| 4 | English | poly- | many; polymer |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πολύς | many, a lot of; neuter πολύ or πολλά as... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | πόρος | a means of passage, passageway, way, opening;... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | πείρω | I pierce, run through; I cleave through |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | *péryō | — |