Where does “spectrum” come from?
spectrum (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek σκοπέω, from Ancient Greek σκοπός, from Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι, from Proto-Hellenic sképťomai, from Proto-Indo-European spéḱyeti, from Proto-Indo-European speḱ- — to see, to look, to observe.
spectrum (Latin): appearance, image; apparition, specter
Definitions
- appearance, image; apparition, specter
Ancestry of “spectrum”, step by step
spectrum traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Ancient Greek σκοπέω
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | σκοπέω | I look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | σκοπός | watcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | σκέπτομαι | I look at, examine; I examine, consider, think |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | sképťomai | to look at |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | spéḱyeti | to be looking at, to keep looking at |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | speḱ- | to see, to look, to observe |