Where does “cataract” come from?
cataract (Middle English) comes from Middle Dutch cataracte, from Latin cataracta, from Ancient Greek καταράκτης, from Ancient Greek καταράσσω, from Ancient Greek κατα-, from Ancient Greek κατά, from Ancient Greek καταστερίζω, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.
cataract (Middle English): cataract; A gate guarding the entrance to Heaven
Definitions
- cataract; A gate guarding the entrance to Heaven
Ancestry of “cataract”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | cataracte | — |
| 2 | Latin | cataracta | waterfall; drawbridge, portcullis |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | καταράκτης | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | καταράσσω | I pour down; pour down |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | κατα- | back; downwards; against |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | κατά | |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | καταστερίζω | to place among the stars; I put among the stars |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | a celestial body; illustrious person; starfish |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | astḗr | star |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂stḗr | star |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |
Words derived from “cataract”