Where does “pheromone” come from?

Pheromone comes from English hormone, from Ancient Greek ὁρμή meaning "impetus" or "setting in motion," from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- meaning "to carry" or "to bear."

pheromone (English): A chemical secreted by an animal, especially an...

Definitions

  1. A chemical secreted by an animal, especially an...

Ancestry of “pheromone”, step by step

pheromone traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ancient Greek φέρω

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
2Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

via English hormone

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhormoneAny substance produced by one tissue and conveyed...
2Ancient Greekὁρμήviolent pressure, assault, force; first...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanser-to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together

Words derived from “pheromone”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti →Every word from Proto-Hellenic pʰérō →