Where does “retroreflection” come from?
retroreflection (English) comes from English reflection, from Middle French reflexion, from Late Latin reflexio, from Latin reflectere, from Latin reflecto, from Latin re-, from Proto-Indo-European wret-, from Proto-Indo-European wert- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
retroreflection (English): reflection in which the reflected rays are...
Definitions
- reflection in which the reflected rays are...
Ancestry of “retroreflection”, step by step
retroreflection traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English reflection
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | reflection | The act of reflecting or the state of being... |
| 2 | Middle French | reflexion | — |
| 3 | Late Latin | reflexio | turning away or back; reflection |
| 4 | Latin | reflectere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 5 | Latin | reflecto | I turn back or away; I reflect |
| 6 | Latin | re- | back, backwards; again; prefix added to various... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wret- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |
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 |