Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “cataracta” come from?

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

cataracta (Latin): waterfall; drawbridge, portcullis

Definitions

  1. waterfall; drawbridge, portcullis

Ancestry of “cataracta”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκαταράκτης—
2Ancient GreekκαταράσσωI pour down; pour down
3Ancient Greekκατα-back; downwards; against
4Ancient Greekκατά
5Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
6Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
7Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “cataracta”

  • cataract
  • cataractous
  • cataractogenesis
  • cataracted
  • cataractogenic
  • postcataract
  • aftercataract
  • anticataract
  • cataractogenous
  • catarata
  • catarata
  • cataract
  • cataracta
  • cateract
  • cataract
  • katarak
  • cataracte
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →