Where does “spearwort” come from?
spearwort (English) comes from Middle English sperwort, from Old English sperewyrt, from Old English wyrt, from Old English bisċop, from Latin episcopus, from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος, from Ancient Greek ἐπισκοπέω, from Ancient Greek ἐπι- — to be hot; to burn.
spearwort (English): Any of various perennial herbaceous plants in the...
Definitions
- Any of various perennial herbaceous plants in the...
Ancestry of “spearwort”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sperwort | Spearwort or a similar plant |
| 2 | Old English | sperewyrt | — |
| 3 | Old English | wyrt | plant; herb; wort |
| 4 | Old English | bisċop | bishop |
| 5 | Latin | episcopus | an overseer, supervisor, bishop in a Christian... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἐπίσκοπος | watcher, guardian; scout, watch; overseer,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἐπισκοπέω | I watch over |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἐπι- | on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | ἐπί | as well, besides; For usage in composition, see... |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | Ἡμέρα | — |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | ἦμαρ | day; by day; midday |
| 12 | Proto-Hellenic | ā́mər | — |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃mr̥ | heat |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃- | to be hot; to burn |