Where does “polyteny” come from?
polyteny (English) comes from English polytene, 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 — pale, gray.
polyteny (English): The presence within a cell of polytene chromosomes (large chromosomes with multiple synapsed chromatids)
Definitions
- The presence within a cell of polytene chromosomes (large chromosomes with multiple synapsed chromatids)
Ancestry of “polyteny”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | polytene | Having very large chromosomes with many... |
| 2 | English | poly | Polytechnic; Polyethylene; Polyurethane |
| 3 | Latin | polium | Alternative form of polion |
| 4 | Latin | polion | A strong-smelling plant, perhaps Teucrium... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πόλιον | felty germander |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | πολιός | grey, grizzled, grizzly; bright, clear, serene; a... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | poľľós | grey |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | polH-yós | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pelH- | pale, gray |