Where does “polytonic” come from?
polytonic (English) comes from English tonic, from English tone, from Middle English tone, from Latin tonus, from Ancient Greek τόνος, from Proto-Hellenic tónos, from Proto-Indo-European tónos, from Proto-Indo-European ten- — to stretch, to extend.
polytonic (English): having several tones
Definitions
- having several tones
Ancestry of “polytonic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tonic | Pertaining to tension, especially of muscles;... |
| 2 | English | tone | A specific pitch; An interval of a major second;... |
| 3 | Middle English | tone | the one |
| 4 | Latin | tonus | The stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | τόνος | rope, cord; chord; tone, note |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | tónos | rope, cord; tension |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | tónos | something stretched; chord, fiber, string |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ten- | to stretch, to extend |