Where does “preoptic” come from?

Preoptic derives from English pre- plus optic, which comes from Middle French optique, Latin opticus, and Ancient Greek ὀπτικός, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root wekʷ- meaning to see.

preoptic (English): In front of the optic chiasm

Definitions

  1. In front of the optic chiasm

Ancestry of “preoptic”, step by step

preoptic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English optic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishopticOf, or relating to the eye or to vision; Of, or...
2Middle Frenchoptique
3Ancient Greekὀπτικόςof or relating to seeing, sight or vision: optic,...
4Ancient Greekὄψιςview
5Ancient Greekὄψvoice; word; eye, face
6Proto-Hellenicwókʷsvoice
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwekʷ-to speak, to sound out

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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wekʷ-