Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “xenograft” come from?

Xenograft comes from Ancient Greek ξένος meaning foreign combined with Ancient Greek γράφω meaning to write or mark, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ger- meaning to gather or scratch.

xenograft (English): A heterograft; To heterograft

Definitions

  1. A heterograft; To heterograft

Ancestry of “xenograft”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgraftA small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in...
2Middle EnglishgraffeAlternative form of grave
3Old Frenchgreffestylus
4Latingraphiumstylus; pen
5Ancient Greekγραφεῖονpencil
6Ancient Greekγράφωto scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to...
7Proto-Hellenicgrəpʰōto scratch, cut or carve into; to draw ,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeangerbʰ-to carve
9Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →