Where does “centaure” come from?
centaure (Middle English) comes from Old English centaurie, from Medieval Latin centaurea, from Latin centaurēum, from Ancient Greek κενταύρειον, from Ancient Greek Κένταυρος, from Ancient Greek ταῦρος, from Proto-Hellenic táuros, from Proto-Indo-European táwros — wild bull, aurochs.
Ancestry of “centaure”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | centaurie | the herb centaury |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | centaurea | Alternative form of centaurēum |
| 3 | Latin | centaurēum | }} Centaurea centaurium |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κενταύρειον | centaury, "Centaurea salonitana", "Chlora... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Κένταυρος | Centaur, a member of a savage race dwelling... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ταῦρος | bull, perhaps also ox |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | táuros | bull |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | táwros | wild bull, aurochs |