Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “proliferator” come from?

Proliferator derives from English proliferate, from Latin ferre and the prefix pro-, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰer- meaning to carry or bear.

proliferator (English): Any agent that causes proliferation

Definitions

  1. Any agent that causes proliferation

Ancestry of “proliferator”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishproliferateTo increase in number or spread rapidly; to...
2EnglishproliferationThe process by which an organism produces others...
3Frenchproliférationproliferation, spreading
4French-ation-ation
5Middle French-ation-ation
6Old French-ation-ation
7Latin-ātiō—
8Latin-tiō—
9Latindissertātiō—
10Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
11Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
12Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
13Latincalceusshoe
14Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
Every word from Latin calx →