Where does “clīmax” come from?

clīmax (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek κλῖμαξ, from Ancient Greek κλίνω, from Proto-Indo-European ḱley-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

clīmax (Latin): climax

Definitions

  1. climax

Ancestry of “clīmax”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκλῖμαξladder; staircase; torture instrument shaped like...
2Ancient Greekκλίνωto bend, slant; to cause to give way, cause to...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱley-to shelter, cover; to lean, slope, incline
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “clīmax

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱley-Every word from Ancient Greek κλίνω
clīmax — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer