Where does “photointerrupter” come from?
photointerrupter (English) comes from English interrupter, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.
photointerrupter (English): An optical device that acts as a switch when a beam of light is blocked by a foreign object
Definitions
- An optical device that acts as a switch when a beam of light is blocked by a foreign object
Ancestry of “photointerrupter”, step by step
photointerrupter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English interrupter
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | interrupter | One who or that which interrupts; A device for... |
| 2 | English | -er | A person or thing that does an action indicated... |
| 3 | Middle English | -er | agentive suffix; agent noun suffix |
| 4 | Old French | -er | Alternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;... |
| 5 | Latin | -āre | first conjugation |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -āō | Forms primarily denominative verbs |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -eh₂yéti | Creates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 10 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |
via English photo
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | photo | A photograph; A photo finish; To take a... |
| 2 | English | photography | The art and technology of producing images on... |
| 3 | French | photographie | photography; photograph |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | φωτο- | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | φῶς | Attic form of φᾰ́ος |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰáos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéh₂os | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |