Where does “saprophagan” come from?
saprophagan (English) comes from English saprophage, from English -phage, from Latin -phagus, from Ancient Greek φάγος, from Ancient Greek φαγεῖν, from Proto-Indo-European bʰh₂g-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂g- — to divide, distribute, allot.
saprophagan (English): One of a tribe of beetles that feed upon decaying...
Definitions
- One of a tribe of beetles that feed upon decaying...
Ancestry of “saprophagan”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | saprophage | A detritivore; A degenerate person; a wastrel |
| 2 | English | -phage | Something that eats, or consumes |
| 3 | Latin | -phagus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | φάγος | glutton |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | φαγεῖν | aorist active infinitive of ἔφαγον |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰh₂g- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂g- | to divide, distribute, allot |