Where does “metronome” come from?
Metronome derives from Ancient Greek μέτρον combined with Ancient Greek -τρον, both tracing through Proto-Hellenic -tron to Proto-Indo-European -trom and -tḗr.
metronome (English): A device, containing an inverted pendulum, used...
Definitions
- A device, containing an inverted pendulum, used...
Ancestry of “metronome”, step by step
metronome traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Ancient Greek μέτρον
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | μέτρον | something used to measure: measure, rule, weight;... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | -τρον | Forms instrument nouns |
| 3 | Proto-Hellenic | -tron | Forms instrument nouns from verb stems |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | -trom | Forms nouns denoting a tool or instrument |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | -tḗr | Derives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone... |
via Ancient Greek νόμος
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | νόμος | usage, custom; law, ordinance; melody, strain |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | νέμω | to deal out, distribute, dispense; to pasture or... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | némos | sacrifice, worship; place of sacrifice, clearing |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | nem- | to distribute; to give, to take |