Where does “precursor” come from?
Precursor derives from Latin praecursor, formed from the prefix prae- and curro meaning to run, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European ḱers- with the same sense.
precursor (English): That which precurses: a forerunner, predecessor,...
Definitions
- That which precurses: a forerunner, predecessor,...
Ancestry of “precursor”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pre- | Before; physically in front of; anterior;... |
| 2 | Middle English | pre- | — |
| 3 | Latin | prae- | before; in front; in charge |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | prai- | pre-, before |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |