Where does “semimajor” come from?

semimajor (English) comes from English Major, from Middle English major, from Latin māior, from Latin magnus, from Proto-Indo-European meǵh₂- — big, great; great; big, stour, great.

semimajor (English): Of or pertaining to the semimajor axis, the long...

Definitions

  1. Of or pertaining to the semimajor axis, the long...

Ancestry of “semimajor”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMajorTitle for an army officer with the rank of major
2Middle Englishmajor
3Latinmāiorancestors, forefathers; advanced in years, the aged; the elders
4Latinmagnuslarge, big; great; important
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵh₂-big, great; great; big, stour, great
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵh₂-Every word from Latin magnusEvery word from Latin māior