Where does “phospholipid” come from?
Phospholipid comes from English phospho- combined with lipid, which derives from French lipide, ultimately from Ancient Greek λῐ́πος meaning fat or grease.
phospholipid (English): Any lipid, such as lecithin or cephalin,...
Definitions
- Any lipid, such as lecithin or cephalin,...
Ancestry of “phospholipid”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | phospho- | phosphorus |
| 2 | English | Phosphorus | A name sometimes used for Hesperus, the personification in Greek mythology of the planet Venus |
| 3 | Latin | phōsphorus | phosphorus |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Φωσφόρος | the bearer of light |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -φόρος | -bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |