Where does “photodetector” come from?

Photodetector derives from English detect, from Latin detectus, the past participle of detegere meaning "to uncover," from the prefix de- and a root related to Proto-Indo-European (s)teg- meaning "to cover."

photodetector (English): Any device used to detect electromagnetic...

Definitions

  1. Any device used to detect electromagnetic...

Ancestry of “photodetector”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdetectorA device capable of registering a specific...
2Englishdetectto discover or find by careful search,...
3Latindetectusuncovered, revealed, disclosed
4Latindē-of; from
5Latinof; concerning; about
6Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
7Latinposteablative singular of postis
8Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pósEvery word from Latin dē-Every word from Proto-Indo-European pósti
photodetector — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer