English
fissile
Fissile comes from Latin fissilis ‘able to be split’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeyd-‘to split’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰidtós‘split, cloven’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfissus‘split, cloven’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfissilis‘able to be split’
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1728fissile
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeyd-‘to split’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰidtós‘split, cloven’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfissus‘split, cloven’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfissilis‘able to be split’
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1728fissile
Earliest quotation: a. 1728, Isaac Newton, A Treatise of the Reflections: “This Cryſtal is a pellucid fiſſile Stone, clear as…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- ‘to split’
bet, boat, bite, bitter, bait, fiber, fibre, feta, abet, fissure, fettuccine, 26 more
Today it means
adj Able to be split.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- / fissile