Where does “polystyrene” come from?
Polystyrene is a blend of poly- and styrene, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pleh₁- meaning to fill or be full, via Proto-Indo-European polh₁ús and English -ene.
polystyrene (English): A vinylic polymer of styrene, CHCHphenyl; An...
Definitions
- A vinylic polymer of styrene, CHCHphenyl; An...
Ancestry of “polystyrene”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | styrene | An aromatic hydrocarbon; a colourless, oily... |
| 2 | English | -ene | An unsaturated hydrocarbon having at least one... |
| 3 | French | -ène | -ene |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | -ηνός | -ian, -ese |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -νός | Alternative form of -νος |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁- | to do, put, place |
Words derived from “polystyrene”