Where does “microphobia” come from?
microphobia (English) comes from English micro, from Ancient Greek μικρός, from Proto-Indo-European mēy- — soft, tender, dear.
microphobia (English): A morbid fear of microbes
Definitions
- A morbid fear of microbes
Ancestry of “microphobia”, step by step
microphobia traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English micro
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | micro | Small, relatively small; short form of... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | μικρός | little, small |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |
via English Phobia
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Phobia | An irrational, abnormal, or obsessive fear (of something) |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | Φόβος | mythological personification of fear |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰegʷ- | to flee; to run |