English
oxy-
Oxy- comes from Ancient Greek ὀξῠ́ς ‘sharp’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὀξῠ́ςoxŭ́s‘sharp’
- Englishtodayoxy-
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὀξῠ́ςoxŭ́s‘sharp’
- Englishtodayoxy-
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, egg, acid, ear, hammer, eager, acute, axe, acne, vinegar, mediocre, oxide, acetate, mediocrity, paragon, acupuncture, acacia, exacerbate, acumen, acme, acuity, hark, acyl, acrid, rosacea, acrimony, acerbic, exacerbation, roselle, 72 more
Another origin of oxy-
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’uncertain
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὀξύςoxús‘sharp’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentoxygène‘oxygen’
- Englishtodayoxy-
Reduced from oxygen which in turn is from French oxygène, from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús).
Today it means
prefix Sharp, keen, acute, pungent, acid
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ὀξῠ́ς / oxy-