Where does “multifocal” come from?
Multifocal derives from English multi- combined with focal, which comes from Latin focālis, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European mel- meaning to crush or grind.
multifocal (English): Arising from or occurring in more than one focus...
Definitions
- Arising from or occurring in more than one focus...
Ancestry of “multifocal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | multi- | More than one; pertaining to more than one thing;... |
| 2 | English | multi | A multituberculate; Neolamprologus multifasciatus |
| 3 | English | multituberculate | Having molars with multiple rows of cusps; Any of... |
| 4 | English | tuberculate | Having tubercles; Tubercular |
| 5 | Latin | tuberculatus | warty, tuberculate |
| 6 | Latin | tūberculum | a small swelling, bump, or protuberance; a boil, pimple, tubercle |
| 7 | Latin | tūber | a hump, bump, swelling, protuberance; excrescence |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | tūβos | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | tewh₂- | to swell; to crowd; to be strong |