Etymology Explorer › Italian

Where does “formicaio” come from?

formicaio (Italian) comes from Italian formica, from Italian are, from Italian aere, from Old French aire, from Latin ārea, from Proto-Italic āzeā, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs-e-yeh₂, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.

formicaio (Italian): anthill; ants' nest; Any place full of activity,...

Definitions

  1. anthill; ants' nest; Any place full of activity,...

Ancestry of “formicaio”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianformicaant; Formica
2ItalianareArchaic form of aere; plural of ara
3Italianaereair; appearance, aspect; nature, disposition
4Old Frenchaireappearance; semblance
5Latinārea—
6Proto-Italicāzeā—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-e-yeh₂—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →