Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “supermassive” come from?

supermassive (English) comes from English massive, from Middle English massif, from Middle French massif, from Latin massa, from Ancient Greek μᾶζα, from Ancient Greek μάσσω, from Proto-Indo-European mh₂ǵyéti, from Proto-Indo-European meh₂ǵ- — to knead, stroke.

supermassive (English): Very or extremely massive; Much larger than usual

Definitions

  1. Very or extremely massive; Much larger than usual

Ancestry of “supermassive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmassiveVery large in size or extent; Very large or bulky...
2Middle Englishmassifweighty, massy, weighing very much; massive,...
3Middle Frenchmassif—
4Latinmassamass, bulk; load, burden; dough
5Ancient Greekμᾶζαbarley-bread or cake
6Ancient Greekμάσσωto handle, work with my hands, knead; to wipe
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmh₂ǵyéti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₂ǵ-to knead, stroke

Words derived from “supermassive”

  • supermassively
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meh₂ǵ- →