Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “interstellar” come from?

Interstellar comes from the Latin prefix inter- meaning "between" combined with Latin stella meaning "star," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂stḗr.

interstellar (English): Between the stars; Among the stars

Definitions

  1. Between the stars; Among the stars

Ancestry of “interstellar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstellarOf, pertaining to, or characteristic of stars;...
2LatinstellarisOf or pertaining to a star; stellar, starry
3Latinstēlla—
4Proto-Italicstērolāstar
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →