Etymograph

English

igneous

Igneous comes from Latin igneus ‘fiery’, from ignis ‘fire’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁engʷ- ‘to burn’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁engʷ-‘to burn’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁n̥gʷnís‘fire’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEignis‘fire’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEigneus‘fiery’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1835igneous

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁engʷ-‘to burn’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁n̥gʷnís‘fire’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEignis‘fire’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEigneus‘fiery’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1835igneous

Earliest quotation: 1835, Charles Lyell, London: John Murray: “All formations, whether igneous or aqueous, which can be…”

Equivalent to ignis + -eous

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₁engʷ- ‘to burn’

ingle, wonga, 5 more

through Latin ignis ‘fire’

ignition, ignite, 5 more

Today it means

adj Pertaining to or having the nature of fire; containing fire; resembling fire.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁engʷ- / igneous

Shirt and support for this word