Where does “speluncaphobia” come from?

speluncaphobia (English) comes from Latin spēlunca, from Ancient Greek σπῆλυγξ, from Ancient Greek σπέος — cave, cavern, grotto.

speluncaphobia (English): A morbid fear of caves or caverns

Definitions

  1. A morbid fear of caves or caverns

Ancestry of “speluncaphobia”, step by step

speluncaphobia traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Latin spēlunca

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinspēluncacave; cavern; chasm
2Ancient Greekσπῆλυγξcave
3Ancient Greekσπέοςcave, cavern, grotto

via English Phobia

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPhobiaAn irrational, abnormal, or obsessive fear (of something)
2Ancient GreekΦόβοςmythological personification of fear
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰegʷ-to flee; to run
Every word from Ancient Greek σπέος →Every word from Ancient Greek σπῆλυγξ →Every word from Latin spēlunca →