English
Pluto
Pluto comes from Ancient Greek πλοῦτος ‘wealth, riches’, from πλέω ‘to float, sail’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *plew-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*plew-‘to sail, flow’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pléwō‘to sail’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπλέωpléō‘to float, sail’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπλοῦτοςploûtos‘wealth, riches’root of πλέω
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΠλούτωνPloútōn
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEPlūtō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Pluto
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*plew-‘to sail, flow’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pléwō‘to sail’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπλέωpléō‘to float, sail’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπλοῦτοςploûtos‘wealth, riches’root of πλέω
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΠλούτωνPloútōn
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEPlūtō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Pluto
- Englishtodaysame form
The story
Venetia Burney is often credited as having suggested the name for the celestial body.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *plew- ‘to sail, flow’
fly, flow, flew, pneumonia, fowl, plough, flay, flue, plover, 27 more
Today it means
name The Greco-Roman god of the underworld.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *plew- / Pluto