Where does “refractable” come from?
refractable (English) comes from English refract, from Latin refractum, from Latin refractus, from Latin refringere, from Latin rĕ-, from Latin prōdūcō, from Latin prō-, from Proto-Italic *pro- — passed , crossed.
refractable (English): Capable of being refracted
Definitions
- Capable of being refracted
Ancestry of “refractable”, step by step
refractable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English refract
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | refract | To change direction as a result of entering a... |
| 2 | Latin | refractum | nominative neuter singular of refrāctus;... |
| 3 | Latin | refractus | broken up or open |
| 4 | Latin | refringere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 5 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 6 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 7 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English able
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | able | Easy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to |
| 2 | Middle English | able | capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent |
| 3 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 4 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |