Where does “retropropulsion” come from?
retropropulsion (English) comes from English propulsion, from Medieval Latin propulsio, from Latin prōpellō, from Latin prō-, from Proto-Italic *pro-, from Proto-Indo-European pro-, from Proto-Indo-European por-, from Proto-Indo-European per- — passed , crossed.
retropropulsion (English): An abnormal tendency to step backwards, as if...
Definitions
- An abnormal tendency to step backwards, as if...
Ancestry of “retropropulsion”, step by step
retropropulsion traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English propulsion
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | propulsion | The action of driving or pushing, typically... |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | propulsio | term |
| 3 | Latin | prōpellō | to drive, push or urge forth or forward; hurl, propel |
| 4 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English retro
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | retro | Of, or relating to, the past, past times, or the... |
| 2 | French | rétro | shortening of rétroviseur, mirror; retro |
| 3 | French | rétroviseur | rear-view mirror |
| 4 | French | rétro- | retro-, back, behind |
| 5 | Latin | retrō | back, backwards, behind |
| 6 | Latin | dūcere | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | doukō | lead |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | déwketi | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dewk- | to pull, to draw; to lead |