australopithecine

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπίθηκος“ape”
2. Latin · derived fromaustrālis“southern”
3. English todayaustralopithecine

Originally in reference to a now-obsolete subfamily Australopithecinae, formed in New Latin, from Latin austrālis (“southern”) + Ancient Greek πίθηκος (píthēkos, “ape”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 20th c. Any of several extinct hominids, belonging to the genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus in the subtribe Australopithecina when seen as distinct, and sometimes other closely related genera.