Where does “microtear” come from?

microtear (English) comes from English tear, from Middle English tear, from Old English teagor, from Proto-West Germanic tah(h)r, from Proto-Germanic tahrą, from Proto-Indo-European dáḱru-, from Proto-Indo-European dr̥ḱ-h₂eḱru- — eye bitter.

microtear (English): A very small tear rip, as for example in a tendon or cell wall

Definitions

  1. A very small tear rip, as for example in a tendon or cell wall

Ancestry of “microtear”, step by step

microtear traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English tear

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtearTo rend by holding or restraining in two places...
2Middle EnglishtearAlternative form of tere
3Old Englishteagor—
4Proto-West Germanictah(h)rtear
5Proto-Germanictahrątear
6Proto-Indo-Europeandáḱru-tears; tear
7Proto-Indo-Europeandr̥ḱ-h₂eḱru-eye bitter

via English micro

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmicroSmall, relatively small; short form of...
2Ancient Greekμικρόςlittle, small
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dr̥ḱ-h₂eḱru- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dáḱru- →Every word from Proto-Germanic tahrą →