Where does “poly-” come from?

poly- (English) comes from Ancient Greek πολύς, from Ancient Greek πόρος, from Ancient Greek πείρω, from Proto-Hellenic *péryō.

poly- (English): many; polymer

Definitions

  1. many; polymer

Ancestry of “poly-”, step by step

poly- traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ancient Greek πολύς

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekπολύςmany, a lot of; neuter πολύ or πολλά as...
2Ancient Greekπόροςa means of passage, passageway, way, opening;...
3Ancient GreekπείρωI pierce, run through; I cleave through
4Proto-Hellenic*péryō

via Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekπολῠ́ςmany

Words derived from “poly-

Every word from Proto-Hellenic *péryōEvery word from Ancient Greek πείρωEvery word from Ancient Greek πόρος