English
tera-
Tera- comes from Ancient Greek τέρας ‘monster’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέραςtéras‘monster’
- Englishtodaytera-
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέραςtéras‘monster’
- Englishtodaytera-
The story
Also from Ancient Greek τέτταρες (téttares, “four”), by analogy with tetra- for being the fourth power of 10³.
Every English word from Ancient Greek τέρας
Today it means
prefix In the International System of Units and other metric systems of units, multiplying the unit to which it is attached by 10¹² (short scale trillion or long scale billion).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek τέρας / tera-