Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “arctus” come from?

arctus (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek Ἄρκτος, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ŕ̥tḱos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂r̥tḱós — destroying.

arctus (Latin): close, thick, narrow; short; scanty, brief

Definitions

  1. close, thick, narrow; short; scanty, brief

Ancestry of “arctus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekἌρκτοςUrsa Major
2Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ŕ̥tḱosbear
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂r̥tḱósdestroying

Words derived from “arctus”

  • arctation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂r̥tḱós →