Where does “methane” come from?
Methane derives from English methyl, from Ancient Greek méthу meaning "wine," plus the English suffix -an, with the base ultimately from Proto-Indo-European médʰu meaning "honey" or "sweet drink."
methane (English): The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a...
Definitions
- The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a...
Ancestry of “methane”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | methyl | The univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH-, formally... |
| 2 | German | Methyl | methyl |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | μέθυ | wine |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | métʰu | intoxicating drink; mead |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | médʰu | honey; honey wine, mead |
Words derived from “methane”