English
dysentery
Dysentery comes from Ancient Greek ἔντερον ‘bowels’, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros ‘inside, within’, and ultimately from *h₁én ‘in’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁én‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁énteros‘inside, within’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔντερονénteraas ἔντερα‘bowels’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδυσεντερίαdusentería
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdysenteria
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400dissenterie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500dissenterie
- Englishearliest quotation 1959dysentery
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁én‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁énteros‘inside, within’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔντερονénteraas ἔντερα‘bowels’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEδυσεντερίαdusentería
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdysenteria
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400dissenterie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500dissenterie
- Englishearliest quotation 1959dysentery
Earliest quotation: 1959, In Old Mexico: “We ate, we drank, and we were merry /…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁én ‘in’
in, internal, indigenous, intimate, encounter, impulse, ensemble, incubation, intern, incense, intestine, endo, incubus, impel, incubate, agog, intimation, interregnum, censer, 31 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros ‘inside, within’
introduce, entrance, interior, enter, intro, 13 more
through Ancient Greek ἔντερον ‘bowels’
Today it means
noun A disease characterised by inflammation of the intestines, especially the colon (large intestine), accompanied by pus (white blood cells) in the feces, fever, pain in the abdomen, high-volume diarrhea, and possible blood in the feces.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁én / dysentery