English
prismatic
Prismatic comes from Ancient Greek πρίσματος, and goes back to πρῑ́ω ‘to saw’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπρῑ́ωprī́ō‘to saw’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπρίσματοςprísmatos
- Frenchc. 1600–presentprismatique
- Englishtodayprismatic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπρῑ́ωprī́ō‘to saw’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπρίσματοςprísmatos
- Frenchc. 1600–presentprismatique
- Englishtodayprismatic
Formed from prism + -atic
Proto-Indo-European *per-
Ancient Greek πρῐ́ω
Ancient Greek πρίσμᾰ ‘anything sawn’
Late Latin prisma ‘(geometry) prism’
English prism
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘to pass, go forth’
first, before, support, far, per, report, further, press, fear, opportunity, port, pre, private, price, practice, afford, ford, appreciate, prior, prime, forth, pregnant, primary, prize, precious, parade, par, practical, ferry, praise, fare, privilege, interpretation, porch, pardon, pirate, interpreter, afar, primitive, prix, 155 more
through Ancient Greek πείρω ‘to pierce’
Today it means
adj Of or pertaining to a prism; having the form of a prism; containing one or more prisms.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek πρῑ́ω / prismatic