English
tryptophan
Tryptophan comes from German Tryptophan ‘tryptophan (amino acid)’, from Ancient Greek φαίνω ‘to appear’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to shine’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰh₂-n-yé-tireconstructedthematic yé-present of *bʰeh₂-
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰáňňō‘to appear’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφαίνωphaínō‘to appear’
- Germanc. 1650–presentTryptophan‘tryptophan (amino acid)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1999tryptophan
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to shine’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰh₂-n-yé-tireconstructedthematic yé-present of *bʰeh₂-
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰáňňō‘to appear’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφαίνωphaínō‘to appear’
- Germanc. 1650–presentTryptophan‘tryptophan (amino acid)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1999tryptophan
Earliest quotation: 1999, Matt Ridley, Genome: “The quickest way to raise serotonin levels again is…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine’
phone, focus, professor, famous, fuel, ben, favor, favourite, fate, fame, ban, profession, fatal, bee, fabulous, photographer, fairy, confession, abandon, confess, infant, beacon, beck, symphony, boon, eff, fab, fay, fable, foyer, bane, buoy, nefarious, profess, prophetic, bene, banish, infamy, banal, beek, 116 more
through Proto-Hellenic *pʰáňňō ‘to appear’
through Ancient Greek φαίνω ‘to appear’
fantasy, fancy, phenomenon, emphasis, phantom, fantasia, epiphany, phenomenology, phenomenally, phenol, phenom, phantasm, 41 more
Today it means
noun An essential amino acid with an indole side chain; present in many foods, especially chocolate, oats, banana and milk; it is essential for normal growth and development and is the precursor of serotonin and niacin; any specific form of this compound, or any derivative of it.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- / tryptophan