Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “microcrystalline” come from?

Microcrystalline combines Ancient Greek μικρός (small) and κρυστάλλινος (of crystal), which derives from κρύσταλλος (crystal) and κρύος (frost), from Proto-Indo-European krus-.

microcrystalline (English): Composed of microscopic crystals

Definitions

  1. Composed of microscopic crystals

Ancestry of “microcrystalline”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrystallineOf, relating to, or composed of crystals; Having...
2Middle Englishcristallyn—
3Old Frenchcristallin—
4Latincrystallinuscrystal; resembling crystal; crystalline
5Ancient Greekκρυστάλλινοςicy; of crystal
6Ancient Greekκρύσταλλοςice; rock crystal
7Ancient Greekκρύοςcold, chilliness; frost; ice
8Proto-Indo-Europeankrews-to form a crust, begin to freeze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European krews- →