English
photographer
Photographer comes from Ancient Greek φωτός, from φῶς ‘light’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to shine, glow light’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰéh₂osreconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰáwosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφᾰ́οςphắos‘light’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφῶςphôs‘light’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφωτόςphōtósgenitive singular of φῶς
- Englishearliest quotation 2015photographer
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to shine, glow light’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰéh₂osreconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰáwosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφᾰ́οςphắos‘light’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφῶςphôs‘light’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφωτόςphōtósgenitive singular of φῶς
- Englishearliest quotation 2015photographer
Earliest quotation: 2015, The Outside Land: “Award-winning Sydney photographer Stephen Dupont’s latest exhibition focuses on…”
Formed from photograph + -er
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine, glow light’
focus, phone, professor, famous, fuel, ben, favor, favourite, ban, fantasy, phase, fate, fancy, fame, profession, fatal, bee, fairy, fabulous, emphasis, abandon, infant, confession, phenomenon, confess, beacon, beck, symphony, phantom, boon, eff, fab, fay, bane, fable, banish, epiphany, buoy, nefarious, profess, 129 more
through Ancient Greek φῶς ‘light’
Today it means
noun One who takes photographs, typically as an occupation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- / photographer