Where does “onychophagist” come from?
onychophagist (English) comes from English onychophagy, from English onycho-, from Ancient Greek ὄνυξ, from Proto-Indo-European h₃nogʰ- — claw, nail; nail.
onychophagist (English): A person who bites his or her fingernails
Definitions
- A person who bites his or her fingernails
Ancestry of “onychophagist”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | onychophagy | the habit of biting one's nails |
| 2 | English | onycho- | nail |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ὄνυξ | claw, nail, hoof, talon; Anything which resembles... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃nogʰ- | claw, nail; nail |