Where does “protostar” come from?

protostar (English) comes from English proto, from English proto-, from Ancient Greek πρωτο-, from Ancient Greek πρῶτος, from Ancient Greek πρό, from Proto-Indo-European pró, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

protostar (English): A collection of gas and dust in space with high...

Definitions

  1. A collection of gas and dust in space with high...

Ancestry of “protostar”, step by step

protostar traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English proto

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprotoPrototypical; preceding the proper beginning of...
2Englishproto-first; most recent common ancestor of; Relating...
3Ancient Greekπρωτο-first, primary
4Ancient Greekπρῶτοςfirst; earliest; foremost, most prominent
5Ancient Greekπρόbefore; before, in front, forth, forward; before,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanprótoward, leading to
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English star

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstarAny small luminous dot appearing in the cloudless...
2Middle Englishsterrestar
3Old Englishsteorrastar
4Proto-West Germanicsterrō
5Proto-Germanicsternôstar
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós