Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “luciferin” come from?

luciferin (English) comes from Latin Lūcifer, from Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος, from Ancient Greek -φόρος, from Ancient Greek φέρω, from Proto-Hellenic pʰérō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

luciferin (English): Any of a class of polycyclic heterocycles that...

Definitions

  1. Any of a class of polycyclic heterocycles that...

Ancestry of “luciferin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinLūcifer—
2Ancient GreekΦωσφόροςthe bearer of light
3Ancient Greek-φόρος-bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing
4Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
5Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “luciferin”

  • luciferase
  • oxyluciferin
  • aminoluciferin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →