Where does “supranuclear” come from?
Supranuclear derives from English nuclear, from Latin nucleus meaning kernel, from Latin nux meaning nut, from Proto-Indo-European knew-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ken-.
supranuclear (English): Above the level of the motor neurons
Definitions
- Above the level of the motor neurons
Ancestry of “supranuclear”, step by step
supranuclear traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Spanish nuclear
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | nuclear | nuclear; to join up; to unite |
| 2 | Spanish | núcleo | nucleus |
| 3 | Latin | nū̆cleus | (small) nut |
| 4 | Latin | nuculea | pertaining to a small nut |
| 5 | Latin | -eus | argentum + API → argenteus; ferrum + API →... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -εῖος | Forms adjectives, usually with a meaning of "of"... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHwós | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -wós | Creates adjectives from verb stems |
via English nuclear
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | nuclear | Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom; Involving... |