Where does “photocleavable” come from?

photocleavable (English) comes from English cleavable, from English cleave, from Middle English cleven, from Old English clēofian, from Proto-West Germanic klibēn, from Proto-Germanic klibāną, from Proto-Indo-European gleybʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European gley- — to be cold, to freeze.

photocleavable (English): cleavable by light

Definitions

  1. cleavable by light

Ancestry of “photocleavable”, step by step

photocleavable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English cleavable

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcleavableCapable of being cleaved
2EnglishcleaveTo split or sever something with, or as if with,...
3Middle EnglishclevenTo cleave; to split or slice through; To break...
4Old Englishclēofian
5Proto-West Germanicklibēnto stick, to adhere
6Proto-Germanicklibānąto stick, to adhere
7Proto-Indo-Europeangleybʰ-to stick
8Proto-Indo-Europeangley-to glue, paste, stick together; to glue, stick...
9Proto-Indo-Europeangel-to be cold, to freeze

via English photo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishphotoA photograph; A photo finish; To take a...
2EnglishphotographyThe art and technology of producing images on...
3Frenchphotographiephotography; photograph
4Ancient Greekφωτο-
5Ancient GreekφῶςAttic form of φᾰ́ος
6Proto-Hellenicpʰáos
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéh₂os
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gley-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gleybʰ-