Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “amoeba” come from?

amoeba (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek ἀμοιβή, from Ancient Greek ἀμείβω, from Proto-Indo-European h₂meygʷ-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

amoeba (Latin): amoeba

Definitions

  1. amoeba

Ancestry of “amoeba”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekἀμοιβήrequital, recompense; change, exchange
2Ancient Greekἀμείβωto exchange; to pass in or out of a house; to do...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂meygʷ-to change, exchange; to change places → to wander
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “amoeba”

  • acanthamoebiasis
  • ameba
  • amebiasi
  • ameboide
  • amoebe
  • Amoeba
  • Amoebozoa
  • Amoebidae
  • Acanthamoeba
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →