Where does “semiconductor” come from?
Semiconductor comes from English semi- combined with conductor, which derives from Middle French conductour, from Latin dūcere meaning "to lead."
semiconductor (English): A substance with electrical properties...
Definitions
- A substance with electrical properties...
Ancestry of “semiconductor”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | conductor | One who conducts or leads; a guide; a director; A... |
| 2 | Middle French | conductour | — |
| 3 | Old French | conduitor | — |
| 4 | Latin | conductor | employer, entrepreneur; contractor; conductor |
| 5 | Latin | condūcō | to lead, bring or draw together; assemble, collect |
| 6 | Latin | dūcō | to lead, guide, conduct, lead away |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | doukō | lead |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | déwketi | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dewk- | to pull, to draw; to lead |