Where does “prechordate” come from?

prechordate (English) comes from English pre, from Latin prae, from Proto-Italic prai, from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

prechordate (English): Prior to the development of a notochord

Definitions

  1. Prior to the development of a notochord

Ancestry of “prechordate”, step by step

prechordate traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English pre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpreBefore; Precum, Cowper's fluid, pre-ejaculate; To...
2Latinpraebefore; in front; in front of
3Proto-Italicpraibefore; in front of
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English chordate

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishchordateA member of the phylum Chordata; numerous animals...
2TranslingualChordataChordates; animals having a notochord at some stage of their development, defined as either of
3Latinchordacord, string; tripe, intestine; catgut
4Ancient Greekχορδήguts, intestines; string made of gut; string,...
5Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰerH-bowels, intestines
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-