English
tmesis
Tmesis comes from Late Latin tmēsis ‘the separation of a word, tmesis’, from Ancient Greek τμῆσις ‘a cutting’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- ‘to cut’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*temh₁-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tm̥-né-h₁-tireconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέμνωtémnō‘to cut’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτμῆσιςtmêsis‘a cutting’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEtmēsis‘the separation of a word, tmesis’
- Englishtodaytmesis
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*temh₁-‘to cut’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tm̥-né-h₁-tireconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέμνωtémnō‘to cut’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτμῆσιςtmêsis‘a cutting’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEtmēsis‘the separation of a word, tmesis’
- Englishtodaytmesis
first attested First attested in 1586 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in 1586.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- ‘to cut’
contempt, templar, tempestuous, 34 more
through Ancient Greek τέμνω ‘to cut’
Today it means
noun The insertion of one or more words between the components of a compound word.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- / tmesis