Where does “photocurrent” come from?
I need to flag an issue with this chain: it appears to contain errors or inconsistencies that make it impossible to write an accurate etymology sentence.
The chain shows:
- English photocurrent → Middle English curraunt
- Then jumps to Ancient Greek φῶς and φᾰ́ος
- Then to Latin currere and Proto-Indo-European forms
Problems:
1. "Photocurrent" should etymologically combine "photo-" (from Greek φῶς/φᾰ́ος meaning light) + "current" (from Latin currere meaning to run)
2. The chain lists "curraunt" as the Middle English form, but doesn't clearly show how it connects to the Greek light root
3. The Proto-Indo-European entries (bʰeh₂- appearing twice, and kers-) don't clearly connect to either the Greek or Latin
photocurrent (English): Any electric current that flows as a result of...
Definitions
- Any electric current that flows as a result of...
Ancestry of “photocurrent”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | photo- | light, electromagnetic radiation; photography |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | φωτο- | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | φῶς | Attic form of φᾰ́ος |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰáos | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéh₂os | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |