English
astroite
Astroite comes from Latin astroites ‘an unknown kind of precious stone of magical…’, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ ‘star’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂stḗr‘star’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*astḗr‘star’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀστήρastḗr‘star’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀστροίτης
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEastroites‘an unknown kind of precious stone of magical power’
- Englishtodayastroite
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂stḗr‘star’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*astḗr‘star’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀστήρastḗr‘star’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀστροίτης
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEastroites‘an unknown kind of precious stone of magical power’
- Englishtodayastroite
The story
Latin astroites: compare French astroite.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₁s- ‘to burn, glow’
constellation, stellate, 18 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr ‘star’
star, disaster, sterling, stellar, stella, 23 more
through Proto-Hellenic *astḗr ‘star’
through Ancient Greek ἀστήρ ‘star’
Today it means
noun A radiated fossil or stone; a starstone.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr / astroite