Where does “phosphatase” come from?
Phosphatase comes from English phosphate and English diastase, from Ancient Greek διάστασις (separation), διά (through), and φωσφόρος (light-bearing), derived from φέρω (to carry), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-.
phosphatase (English): Any of several enzymes that hydrolyze phosphate...
Definitions
- Any of several enzymes that hydrolyze phosphate...
Ancestry of “phosphatase”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | phosphate | Any salt or ester of phosphoric acid; A... |
| 2 | French | phosphate | phosphate |
| 3 | French | phosphore | phosphorus |
| 4 | New Latin | phōsphorus | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Φωσφόρος | the bearer of light |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -φόρος | -bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |
Words derived from “phosphatase”