Where does “polycytosine” come from?

polycytosine (English) comes from English poly, from Latin polium, from Latin polion, from Ancient Greek πόλιον, from Ancient Greek πολιός, from Proto-Hellenic poľľós, from Proto-Indo-European polH-yós, from Proto-Indo-European pelH- — pale, gray.

polycytosine (English): A nucleotide containing cytosine as the only base

Definitions

  1. A nucleotide containing cytosine as the only base

Ancestry of “polycytosine”, step by step

polycytosine traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English poly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpolyPolytechnic; Polyethylene; Polyurethane
2LatinpoliumAlternative form of polion
3LatinpolionA strong-smelling plant, perhaps Teucrium...
4Ancient Greekπόλιονfelty germander
5Ancient Greekπολιόςgrey, grizzled, grizzly; bright, clear, serene; a...
6Proto-Hellenicpoľľósgrey
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpolH-yós
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpelH-pale, gray

via English cytosine

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcytosineA heterocyclic base, "4-aminopyrimidin-2-one",...
2GermanCytosincytosine
3Ancient Greekκύτοςa hollow; any vessel; e.g. a jar, an urn, a vase,...
4Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European polH-yósEvery word from Proto-Hellenic poľľós