Where does “microscopical” come from?
Microscopical derives from English microscope and the suffix -ic, from Ancient Greek σκοπέω and σκοπός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European speḱ-, meaning to observe or see.
microscopical (English): Pertaining to the microscope; achieved by means...
Definitions
- Pertaining to the microscope; achieved by means...
Ancestry of “microscopical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | microscope | An optical instrument used for observing small... |
| 2 | Italian | microscopio | microscope |
| 3 | Latin | microscopium | microscope |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | σκοπέω | I look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | σκοπός | watcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | σκέπτομαι | I look at, examine; I examine, consider, think |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | sképťomai | to look at |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | spéḱyeti | to be looking at, to keep looking at |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | speḱ- | to see, to look, to observe |