Where does “tetraphenyl” come from?
tetraphenyl (English) comes from English phenyl, from French phényle, from French -yle, from Ancient Greek Ὕλη, from Proto-Indo-European swel- — to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...
tetraphenyl (English): Four phenyl groups in a molecule; An oligophenyl...
Definitions
- Four phenyl groups in a molecule; An oligophenyl...
Ancestry of “tetraphenyl”, step by step
tetraphenyl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English phenyl
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | phenyl | A univalent hydrocarbon radical formally derived... |
| 2 | French | phényle | phenyl |
| 3 | French | -yle | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Ὕλη | wood; trees; forest |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swel- | to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,... |
via English tetra
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tetra | Any of numerous species of small South American... |
| 2 | Translingual | Tetragonopterus | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | πτερόν | feather; wing; Any winged creature |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | péth₂r̥ | wing; feather |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | peth₂- | to spread out; to fly |