English
helophyte
Helophyte comes from Ancient Greek ἕλος ‘marsh’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *sélos ~ *séles-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sélos ~ *séles-‘marsh’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hélos‘marsh’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἕλοςhélos‘marsh’
- Englishtodayhelophyte
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sélos ~ *séles-‘marsh’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*hélos‘marsh’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἕλοςhélos‘marsh’
- Englishtodayhelophyte
Formed from -phyte ‘plant’
Every English word from Proto-Indo-European *sélos ~ *séles-
Today it means
noun Any plant (typically found in marshy ground) whose buds overwinter under water; helophytes grow partially submerged, and regrow from beds below the water.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sélos ~ *séles- / helophyte