English
catopter
Catopter comes from Ancient Greek κάτοπτρον ‘mirror’, from καθοράω ‘to behold’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wer- ‘to watch, guard’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wer-‘to watch, guard’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὁράω‘to look with the eyes’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκαθοράωkathoráō‘to behold’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκάτοπτρονkátoptron‘mirror’
- Englishearliest quotation 1885catopter
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wer-‘to watch, guard’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὁράω‘to look with the eyes’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκαθοράωkathoráō‘to behold’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκάτοπτρονkátoptron‘mirror’
- Englishearliest quotation 1885catopter
Earliest quotation: 1885, C.M. Van Wagenen: “My Cat whose black fur was so glossy and…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *wer- ‘to watch, guard’
wear, guard, ward, regard, con, garage, warn, worm, beware, garrison, ware, weir, verge, optic, reverence, revere, wry, vermin, prosaic, guaranty, vermilion, milliner, varmint, vermicelli, vermeil, vermiculite, 67 more
through Ancient Greek ὁράω ‘to look with the eyes’
Today it means
noun A reflecting optical glass or instrument; a mirror.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wer- / catopter