Where does “polyspermal” come from?

polyspermal (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.

polyspermal (English): polyspermous

Definitions

  1. polyspermous

Ancestry of “polyspermal”, step by step

polyspermal traces back through 3 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 AL

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishALInitialism of assembly language; Initialism of...
2Dutchalall, all of; already; yet
3Middle Dutchalall, all of; completely; even though, no matter...
4Old Dutchāl
5Proto-West Germanicallall
6Proto-Germanicallazall
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish

via English sperm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspermThe reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a...
2Middle Englishsperme
3Latinspermaseed, semen, sperm
4Ancient Greekσπέρμαseed; semen, sperm; seed-time, sowing
5Proto-Hellenic*spérmə
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European polH-yósEvery word from Proto-Hellenic poľľós