Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “propagator” come from?

Propagator comes from Latin propagator, an agent noun from propagatus, past participle of propago, meaning to extend or reproduce, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots expressing forward motion and growth.

propagator (English): A person who disseminates news or rumour; A...

Definitions

  1. A person who disseminates news or rumour; A...

Ancestry of “propagator”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpropagateTo cause to continue or multiply by generation,...
2Latinpropagatuspropagated
3LatinpropagoI propagate; I extend, enlarge, increase; set,...
4Latinprō-—
5Proto-Italic*pro-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
8Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →