Where does “polar” come from?
Polar comes from Late Latin polaris, derived from Latin -aris and -alis suffixes attached to a Proto-Indo-European root kʷel-.
polar (English): Of or having a pole or polarity; Of, relating to,...
Definitions
- Of or having a pole or polarity; Of, relating to,...
Ancestry of “polar”, step by step
polar traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Latin polāris
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | polāris | — |
| 2 | Latin | polus | pole |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | πόλος | pivot, hinge, axis, pole; axis of the celestial... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷel- | to turn |
via Late Latin polaris
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Late Latin | polaris | Of or pertaining to the poles |