Etymograph

English

amphi-

Amphi- comes from Ancient Greek ἀμφίς, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂m̥bʰireconstructed
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀμφίςamphís
  3. Englishtodayamphi-

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂m̥bʰireconstructed
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀμφίςamphís
  3. Englishtodayamphi-

The story

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀμφίς (amphís), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi (‘round about, around’), possibly from *h₂énts, from *h₂ent- (‘face, forehead; front’) + *-s.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- ‘face, forehead’

end, answer, ancient, endless, antique, ante, ender, 11 more

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts ‘forehead’

and, 5 more

Today it means

prefix Located on the opposite side of, or referring to two distinct sides or ends of a region or object.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi / amphi-

Shirt and support for this word