Where does “luciferase” come from?
Luciferase is an English term formed from lucifer and the enzyme suffix -ase, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- meaning to stand or cause to stand.
luciferase (English): Any one of a group of enzymes that produce...
Definitions
- Any one of a group of enzymes that produce...
Ancestry of “luciferase”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | luciferin | Any of a class of polycyclic heterocycles that... |
| 2 | Latin | Lūcifer | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | Φωσφόρος | the bearer of light |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | -φόρος | -bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |