English
diastema
Diastema comes from Ancient Greek διάστημα ‘interval, space between’, from στῆναι ‘aorist active infinitive of ῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand up’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand up’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stísteh₂ti‘to be standing up, to be getting up’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hístāmi‘to stand’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἵστημι‘to stand’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEστῆναι‘aorist active infinitive of ῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδιάστημαdiástēma‘interval, space between’
- Englishearliest quotation 1968diastema
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand up’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stísteh₂ti‘to be standing up, to be getting up’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hístāmi‘to stand’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἵστημι‘to stand’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEστῆναι‘aorist active infinitive of ῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδιάστημαdiástēma‘interval, space between’
- Englishearliest quotation 1968diastema
Earliest quotation: 1968, Anthony Burgess: “A gormless-looking boy, thin and exhibiting diastemata in the…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand up’
state, post, stay, rest, stand, distance, instance, constitution, stood, establish, stable, stadium, contest, instant, stability, destination, substance, destiny, testimony, distant, stem, prostitution, stud, stationary, stool, prostitute, substitution, extant, stale, stamina, distal, attest, stow, stead, destitute, stalwart, oust, testimonial, stasis, astute, 138 more
through Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti ‘to be standing up, to be getting up’
assistant, assistance, consistent, assist, resist, insist, consist, persistent, persist, armistice, solstice, desist, subsistence, existentialist, 30 more
through Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi ‘to stand’
metastatic, hydrostatic, 24 more
through Ancient Greek ἵστημι ‘to stand’
Today it means
noun A gap or space between two adjacent teeth, especially the upper front incisors (in humans).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- / diastema