English
pentalpha
Pentalpha comes from Ancient Greek πένταλφα, from πέντε ‘five’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pénkʷe‘five’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCEsame form‘five’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπέντε‘five’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπένταλφαpéntalpha
- Englishtodaypentalpha
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pénkʷe‘five’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCEsame form‘five’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπέντε‘five’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπένταλφαpéntalpha
- Englishtodaypentalpha
The story
So called for its resemblance to five alphas superimposed at different rotations.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe ‘five’
five, fifth, finger, punch, fin, pimp, quintet, cinque, quint, quine, 22 more
Today it means
noun A pentagram.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe / pentalpha