Etymology Explorer › Greek

Where does “χειρονομία” come from?

χειρονομία (Greek) comes from Greek χειρό-, from Ancient Greek χείρ, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

χειρονομία (Greek): gesture, gesticulation; commendable act

Definitions

  1. gesture, gesticulation; commendable act

Ancestry of “χειρονομία”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Greekχειρό-Alternative form of χειρο-; hand
2Ancient Greekχείρhand
3Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →