English
acroter
Acroter comes from French acrotère ‘acroter, acroterium, acroterion’, from Ancient Greek ἀκρωτήριον ‘cape, headland, promontory’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἄκρος‘at the edge’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀκρωτήριονakrōtḗrion‘cape, headland, promontory’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacrōtērium
- Frenchc. 1600–presentacrotère‘acroter, acroterium, acroterion’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007acroter
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἄκρος‘at the edge’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀκρωτήριονakrōtḗrion‘cape, headland, promontory’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacrōtērium
- Frenchc. 1600–presentacrotère‘acroter, acroterium, acroterion’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007acroter
Earliest quotation: 2007, Galila El Kadi, Alain Bonnamy: “It is a very elegant building, with four supporting…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, egg, ear, acid, hammer, axe, oxide, acute, acne, paragon, acupuncture, hark, acacia, acetate, acumen, acme, acuity, acyl, roselle, rosacea, 71 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱrós ‘sharp’
eager, vinegar, mediocre, mediocrity, exacerbate, exacerbation, acrimony, acerbic, acrid, 12 more
Today it means
noun An acroterium.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / acroter