Where does “speculum” come from?
Speculum comes from Latin speculum, formed with the diminutive suffix Latin -culum from Latin specere, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European -trom and -tḗr.
speculum (English): A medical instrument used during an examination...
Definitions
- A medical instrument used during an examination...
Ancestry of “speculum”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | speculum | a looking-glass, mirror |
| 2 | Proto-Italic | -klom | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | -tlom | Alternative form of *-trom |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | -trom | Forms nouns denoting a tool or instrument |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | -tḗr | Derives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone... |