Where does “a-” come from?
a- (New Latin) comes from Ancient Greek βάσις, from Proto-Hellenic gʷə́tis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- — to step.
a- (New Latin): without; not, absence of; Alternative form of ab-
Definitions
- without; not, absence of; Alternative form of ab-
Ancestry of “a-”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 2 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |