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
- waterfall; drawbridge, portcullis
Ancestry of “cataracta”, step by step
cataracta traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Ancient Greek καταράκτης
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | καταράκτης | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | καταράσσω | I pour down; pour down |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | κατα- | back; downwards; against |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κατά | |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | καταστερίζω | to place among the stars; I put among the stars |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | a celestial body; illustrious person; starfish |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | astḗr | star |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂stḗr | star |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |
via Latin clathri
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | clathri | trellis |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | κλεῖθρον | A bar for closing a door; The boom of an harbour;... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | κλείω | shut, close, bar; enclose, shut in; Epic form of... |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | klāyyō | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kleh₂uyeti | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kleh₂u- | nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for... |