Where does “polytrophic” come from?

polytrophic (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.

polytrophic (English): Of bacteria etc.: feeding on multiple types of...

Definitions

  1. Of bacteria etc.: feeding on multiple types of...

Ancestry of “polytrophic”, step by step

polytrophic traces back through two 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 trophic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtrophicOf or pertaining to nutrition; Describing the...
2Ancient Greekτροφικόςof or pertaining to food, nourishment; tending,...
3Ancient Greekτροφήnourishment, food; nurture, rearing, upbringing;...
4Ancient Greekτρέφωto thicken, congeal, curdle; to make to grow, to...
5Proto-Hellenictʰrépʰō
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelH-
polytrophic — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer