Where does “proto” come from?
Proto comes from English proto-, from Ancient Greek πρωτο-, from Ancient Greek πρῶτος meaning "first," from Ancient Greek πρό meaning "before," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "forward" and "to cross over."
proto (English): Prototypical; preceding the proper beginning of...
Definitions
- Prototypical; preceding the proper beginning of...
Ancestry of “proto”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | proto- | first; most recent common ancestor of; Relating... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | πρωτο- | first, primary |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | πρῶτος | first; earliest; foremost, most prominent |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πρό | before; before, in front, forth, forward; before,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | pró | toward, leading to |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |