Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “propagation” come from?

Propagation comes from Middle French propagation, from Old French propagacion, from Latin propagatio, a noun formed from the prefix pro- and the root bʰuH- meaning to grow or swell, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European.

propagation (English): the multiplication or natural increase in a...

Definitions

  1. the multiplication or natural increase in a...

Ancestry of “propagation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchpropagation—
2Old Frenchpropagacion—
3Latinpropagatiopropagation; reproduction; extension,...
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “propagation”

  • backpropagation
  • micropropagation
  • propagational
  • repropagation
  • copropagation
  • antipropagation
  • backpropagational
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →