English
aphrodite
Aphrodite comes from Ancient Greek ἀφρός ‘sea foam, froth’, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥bʰrós ‘rain-cloud, rain, cloud’, and ultimately from *nebʰ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nebʰ-‘to become damp, cloudy’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*n̥bʰrós‘rain-cloud, rain, cloud’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀφρόςaphrós‘sea foam, froth’
- Englishtodayaphrodite
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nebʰ-‘to become damp, cloudy’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*n̥bʰrós‘rain-cloud, rain, cloud’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀφρόςaphrós‘sea foam, froth’
- Englishtodayaphrodite
Formed from -ite
The story
From stem of Ancient Greek ἀφρός (aphrós, “sea foam, froth”) (for its supposed resemblance) + -ite. This coining matches not only the name of the goddess, but also the popular folk etymology for her by the Ancient Greeks.folk etymology The source marks this as unproven or a folk etymology. Quoted, not asserted.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *nebʰ- ‘to become damp, cloudy’
Today it means
noun A soft and earthy mineral of a white or yellowish color, and with a waxy lustre, found at Langbanshytta in Sweden. It is a hydrated silicate of magnesia, and resembles meerschaum.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *nebʰ- / aphrodite