English
leucine
Leucine comes from Ancient Greek λευκός ‘white’, from Proto-Indo-European *lewkós ‘bright’, and ultimately from *lewk-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewkós‘bright’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*leukós‘white’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλευκόςleukós‘white’
- Englishearliest quotation 2015leucine
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewkós‘bright’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*leukós‘white’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλευκόςleukós‘white’
- Englishearliest quotation 2015leucine
Earliest quotation: 2015: “Thus, leucine is already being seen as a pharmaconutrient…”
Formed from leuco- + -ine
Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’
Proto-Indo-European *lewkós ‘bright’
Proto-Hellenic *leukós ‘white’
Ancient Greek λευκός ‘white’
English leuco-
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’
light, low, los, link, lucy, ounce, lunar, luna, lux, lea, illumination, illuminate, lumen, lynx, translucent, luminous, lumia, lucid, luminosity, luce, lum, loach, lune, luminary, luminescent, luminal, 75 more
Today it means
noun An essential amino acid, C₆H₁₃NO₂, isomeric with isoleucine, found in most animal proteins; it is essential for growth in children.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewk- / leucine