Where does “predator” come from?
Predator comes from Latin praedator, derived from Latin praeda (plunder), which traces through Latin praeheda to Proto-Indo-European gʰed- (to seize), combined with Latin prae (before) from Proto-Indo-European preh₂- and per-.
predator (English): Any animal or other organism that hunts and kills...
Definitions
- Any animal or other organism that hunts and kills...
Ancestry of “predator”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | praedātor | raider, plunderer, pillager, hunter |
| 2 | Latin | praedor | I acquire loot, such as through robbery or war; I... |
| 3 | Latin | praeda | plunder, spoils of war, booty; prey, game taken... |
| 4 | Latin | praeheda | — |
| 5 | Latin | prae | before; in front; in front of |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | prai | before; in front of |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |