Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “polyrhythm” come from?

polyrhythm (English) comes from English rhythm, from Latin rhythmus, from Ancient Greek ῥυθμός, from Ancient Greek ῥέω, from Proto-Indo-European srew-, from Proto-Indo-European ser- — to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together.

polyrhythm (English): Music with multiple rhythmic elements played...

Definitions

  1. Music with multiple rhythmic elements played...

Ancestry of “polyrhythm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrhythmThe variation of strong and weak elements of...
2Latinrhythmusrhythm
3Ancient Greekῥυθμόςa repeating, regular motion, vibration; measured...
4Ancient GreekῥέωI flow, stream, run, gush; I let flow, pour; I...
5Proto-Indo-Europeansrew-to flow, stream
6Proto-Indo-Europeanser-to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together

Words derived from “polyrhythm”

  • polyrhythmic
  • polyrhythmically
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ser- →