English
detonation
Detonation comes from French détoner ‘to detonate’, from Latin detonō ‘to cease thundering, raging’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tenh₂-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)tenh₂-‘to thunder’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)tonh₂éyetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tonaōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtonō‘to thunder’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdetonōas detonāre‘to cease thundering, raging’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdétoner‘to detonate’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentdétonation
- Englishtodaydetonation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)tenh₂-‘to thunder’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)tonh₂éyetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tonaōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtonō‘to thunder’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdetonōas detonāre‘to cease thundering, raging’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdétoner‘to detonate’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentdétonation
- Englishtodaydetonation
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)tenh₂- ‘to thunder’
through Latin tonō ‘to thunder’
Today it means
noun An explosion or sudden report made by the near-instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable substances. Specifically, combustion that spreads supersonically via shock compression.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)tenh₂- / detonation