Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “topography” come from?

Topography comes from Middle English topographye, from Latin topographia, from Ancient Greek τοπογραφία, a compound of τόπος meaning place and graphia meaning description.

topography (English): A precise description of a place; A detailed...

Definitions

  1. A precise description of a place; A detailed...

Ancestry of “topography”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtopographye—
2Latintopographia—
3Ancient Greekτοπογραφίαdescription of a place or country
4Ancient Greekγράφωto scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to...
5Proto-Hellenicgrəpʰōto scratch, cut or carve into; to draw ,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangerbʰ-to carve
7Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

Words derived from “topography”

  • topographer
  • microtopography
  • nanotopography
  • phototopography
  • phototopographer
  • microtopographer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →