Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “telegraph” come from?

Telegraph comes from French télégraphe, composed of French -graphe and Ancient Greek τῆλε, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-.

telegraph (English): An apparatus, or a process, for communicating...

Definitions

  1. An apparatus, or a process, for communicating...

Ancestry of “telegraph”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchtélégraphetelegraph
2Frenchtélé-tele-
3Ancient Greekτῆλεfar off, afar, far away
4Latincommūnicāre—
5Latincommūnis—
6Old Latincom(m)oinis—
7Proto-Italickommoinis—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “telegraph”

  • telegraphic
  • telegrapher
  • telegraphist
  • telegraphically
  • radiotelegraph
  • telegraphese
  • radiotelegraphic
  • pantelegraph
  • telegraphical
  • phototelegraph
  • phototelegraphic
  • telegraphoscope
  • electrotelegraphic
  • radiotelegraphically
  • radiotelegraphist
  • tel
  • radiotelegrapher
  • pantelegraphic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →