English
tropic
Tropic comes from Late Latin tropicus ‘of or pertaining to the solstice’, from Ancient Greek τροπικός ‘of the solstice’, from τροπή ‘turn; solstice’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *trep- ‘to turn’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*trep-‘to turn’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτρέπω‘turn’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπήtropḗ‘turn; solstice’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπικόςtropikós‘of a turn; of the solstice’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEtropicus‘of or pertaining to the solstice’
- Englishearliest quotation 1645tropic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*trep-‘to turn’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτρέπω‘turn’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπήtropḗ‘turn; solstice’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπικόςtropikós‘of a turn; of the solstice’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEtropicus‘of or pertaining to the solstice’
- Englishearliest quotation 1645tropic
Earliest quotation: 1645, James Howell, Skirmishes: “O conſider my caſe, moſt blisfull Queen, […] Diſpell…”
Linked words
pairs
- tropic and trophy both from Ancient Greek τροπή ‘rout’
through Proto-Indo-European *trep- ‘to turn’
thrive, intrepid, trepidation, turpitude, 31 more
through Ancient Greek τρέπω ‘turn, divert, turn back, rout an enemy’
trope, troubadour, contrive, 24 more
through Ancient Greek τροπή ‘turn’
Today it means
noun Either of the two parallels of latitude 23°26′ north and south of the equator; the farthest points at which the sun can be directly overhead; the boundaries of the torrid zone or tropics.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *trep- / tropic