Where does “hex” come from?

Hex is a shortening of hexadecimal, which derives from Latin decas (group of ten) via Ancient Greek δέκα and Proto-Indo-European swéḱs, both meaning ten.

hex (English): To cast a spell on (specifically an evil spell), to bewitch

Definitions

  1. To cast a spell on (specifically an evil spell), to bewitch

Ancestry of “hex”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhexagonA polygon with six sides and six angles
2Latinhexagōnumhexagon
3Ancient Greekἑξάγωνονhexagon
4Ancient Greekἑξα-Forming compound words with the sense of "six"
5Ancient Greekἕξsix
6Proto-Hellenichwékscardinal...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanswéḱssix

Words derived from “hex”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European swéḱs →