Where does “amoeba” come from?
amoeba (New Latin) comes from Ancient Greek ἀμοιβή, from Ancient Greek ἀμείβω, from Proto-Indo-European h₂meygʷ-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
amoeba (New Latin): amoeba
Ancestry of “amoeba”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | ἀμοιβή | requital, recompense; change, exchange |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἀμείβω | to exchange; to pass in or out of a house; to do... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂meygʷ- | to change, exchange; to change places → to wander |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |