Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “supercell” come from?

supercell (English) comes from English cell, from English cell phone, from English cellular phone, from English phone, from English telephone, from French téléphone, from French télé-, from Ancient Greek τῆλε — whale, sea monster; abyss.

supercell (English): A severe thunderstorm with updrafts and...

Definitions

  1. A severe thunderstorm with updrafts and...

Ancestry of “supercell”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcellA single-room dwelling for a hermit; A small...
2Englishcell phoneA portable, wireless telephone, which changes...
3Englishcellular phoneA mobile phone using cellular technology; A...
4EnglishphoneA device for transmitting conversations and other...
5EnglishtelephoneA telecommunication device used for two-way...
6Frenchtéléphonetelephone; first-person singular present...
7Frenchtélé-tele-
8Ancient Greekτῆλεfar off, afar, far away
9Latincommūnicāre—
10Latincommūnis—
11Old Latincom(m)oinis—
12Proto-Italickommoinis—
13Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
14Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
15Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
16Middle Englishkyt—
17Russianкитwhale; genitive plural of ки́та
18Old Church Slavonicкитъwhale
19Ancient Greekκῆτοςwhale, sea monster; abyss
Every word from Ancient Greek κῆτος →