Where does “photoelectric” come from?
Photoelectric comes from English photo- and -electric, combining Ancient Greek φωτω- (light) and Latin -icus, tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to shine or appear.
photoelectric (English): Of or relating to the electric effects of...
Definitions
- Of or relating to the electric effects of...
Ancestry of “photoelectric”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | electric | Of, relating to, produced by, operated with, or... |
| 2 | English | -ally | used with adjectives ending in -ic |
| 3 | English | ahistoric | Synonym of ahistorical |
| 4 | English | historic | Very important; noteworthy: having importance or... |
| 5 | Latin | historicus | historical |
| 6 | Latin | historia | history; account; story |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορία | inquiry, examination, systematic observation,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορέω | to inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | ἵστωρ | one who knows law and right, judge; witness; a... |
| 10 | Proto-Hellenic | wístōr | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | wéydtōr | one who has seen, one who knows |
| 12 | Indo-European | *weyd- | — |