Where does “tectonic” come from?
Tectonic derives from Late Latin tectonicus, from Ancient Greek τεκτονικός, from Ancient Greek τέκτων meaning carpenter, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European root tek- meaning to construct or build.
tectonic (English): Of or relating to construction or to...
Definitions
- Of or relating to construction or to...
Ancestry of “tectonic”, step by step
tectonic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Late Latin tectonicus
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Late Latin | tectonicus | building; architectural, tectonic, architectonic |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | τεκτονικός | practised or skilled in building; pertaining to... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | τέκτων | one who works with wood: carpenter, builder; any... |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | téktōn | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | tetḱō | carpenter |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tetḱ- | to create, produce; to cut, hew |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | teḱ- | to sire, beget |
via French tectonique
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | tectonique | tectonic |