English
saprovore
Saprovore comes from Ancient Greek σαπρός ‘putrid’, and goes back to σήψ ‘putrefying sore’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσήψsḗps‘putrefying sore’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσήπω‘to make rotten or putrid’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσαπρόςsaprós‘putrid’radical of σήπω
- Englishtodaysaprovore
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσήψsḗps‘putrefying sore’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσήπω‘to make rotten or putrid’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσαπρόςsaprós‘putrid’radical of σήπω
- Englishtodaysaprovore
Linked words
through Ancient Greek σήπω ‘to make rotten or putrid’
Today it means
noun Any organism that feeds on detritus
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek σήψ / saprovore