Where does “metacharacter” come from?
metacharacter (English) comes from English character, from Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ, from Ancient Greek χαράσσω, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.
metacharacter (English): A character used to signify something other than...
Definitions
- A character used to signify something other than...
Ancestry of “metacharacter”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | character | A being involved in the action of a story; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | caracter | — |
| 3 | Old French | caractere | mark; sign; indication |
| 4 | Latin | character | branding iron; brand; characteristic, mark,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χαρακτήρ | instrument used for engraving; person who... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χαράσσω | to sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |