English
kenophobia
Kenophobia comes from Ancient Greek κενός ‘empty’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ḱen-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱen-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kenwósreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκενόςkenós‘empty’
- Englishearliest quotation 2015kenophobia
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱen-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kenwósreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκενόςkenós‘empty’
- Englishearliest quotation 2015kenophobia
Earliest quotation: 2015, Nina George, The Little Paris Bookshop: “You're not taking this seriously," Cuneo complained. "Just imagine…”
Formed from -phobia
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱen-
Today it means
noun An abnormal fear of empty spaces.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱen- / kenophobia