Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “litteratura” come from?

litteratura (Latin) comes from Latin littera, from Latin lītera, from Old Latin leitera, from Proto-Indo-European h₂leyH-, from Proto-Indo-European leyh₂- — to die, disapear; to avoid, elude, decline,...

Ancestry of “litteratura”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinlitteraa letter of the alphabet; handwriting; letter,...
2Latinlītera—
3Old Latinleitera—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂leyH-to smear
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleyh₂-to die, disapear; to avoid, elude, decline,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyh₂- →