Where does “polychrestic” come from?

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

polychrestic (English): Able to be used in various ways

Definitions

  1. Able to be used in various ways

Ancestry of “polychrestic”, step by step

polychrestic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English polychrest

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpolychrestA medicine that serves for many uses, or that...
2Ancient Greekπολύχρηστος
3Ancient Greekπολύςmany, a lot of; neuter πολύ or πολλά as...
4Ancient Greekπόροςa means of passage, passageway, way, opening;...
5Ancient GreekπείρωI pierce, run through; I cleave through
6Proto-Hellenic*péryō

via English ic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishicrelated or pertaining to; having the character of
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *péryōEvery word from Ancient Greek πείρωEvery word from Ancient Greek πόρος