Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “catalecticus” come from?

catalecticus (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek καταληκτικός, from Ancient Greek κατά, from Ancient Greek καταστερίζω, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ, from Proto-Hellenic astḗr, from Proto-Indo-European h₂stḗr, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.

Ancestry of “catalecticus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκαταληκτικόςincomplete; leaving off, incomplete
2Ancient Greekκατά
3Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
4Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
5Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “catalecticus”

  • catalectic
  • brachycatalectic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →