English
Phosphorus
Phosphorus comes from Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος ‘the bearer of light’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΦωσφόροςPhōsphóros‘the bearer of light’
- EnglishtodayPhosphorus
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΦωσφόροςPhōsphóros‘the bearer of light’
- EnglishtodayPhosphorus
A compound of φῶς ‘light’ + φέρω ‘to bear, carry’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘shine’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂os
Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos
Ancient Greek φάος ‘light’
Ancient Greek φῶς ‘light’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- ‘to bear, carry’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti ‘to be carrying’
Proto-Hellenic *pʰérō ‘to bear’
Ancient Greek φέρω ‘to bear, carry’
Every English word from Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος
Today it means
name A name sometimes used for Hesperus, the personification in Greek mythology of the planet Venus.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος / Phosphorus