Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nanoparticle” come from?

Nanoparticle derives from English particle combined with the nano- prefix, ultimately from Ancient Greek νᾶνος meaning dwarf or tiny.

nanoparticle (English): any microscopic particle less than about 100...

Definitions

  1. any microscopic particle less than about 100...

Ancestry of “nanoparticle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishparticleA very small piece of matter, a fragment;...
2Middle Frenchparticule—
3Latinparticulasmall part, particle
4Latinparspart, side, piece, share; some; faction
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “nanoparticle”

  • glyconanoparticle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →