English
sphenoid
Sphenoid comes from New Latin sphenoides ‘Shaped like a wedge’, and goes back to Ancient Greek σφήν.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσφήν‘wedge’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσφηνοειδήςsphēnoeidḗs‘wedge-shaped’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900sphenoides‘Shaped like a wedge’
- Englishtodaysphenoid
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσφήν‘wedge’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσφηνοειδήςsphēnoeidḗs‘wedge-shaped’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900sphenoides‘Shaped like a wedge’
- Englishtodaysphenoid
Every English word from Ancient Greek σφήν
Today it means
adj Having a wedge shape.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek σφήν / sphenoid