Etymology

electroscope

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Today it means: a simple device that detects the presence of an electric charge by the mutual repulsion of metal foils or pith balls Full definition →

Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō) ← Proto-Hellenic *sképt͏̌omai ← Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti
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The story

  1. Frenchélectro-
  2. Ancient Greekἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron)
  3. Latinēlectrum
  4. Latinelectro-
  5. Englishelectro-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*speḱ-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*spéḱyeti
  8. Proto-Hellenic*sképt͏̌omai
  9. Ancient Greekσκέπτομαι (sképtomai)
  10. Ancient Greekσκοπός (skopós)
  11. Ancient Greekσκοπέω (skopéō)
  12. English todayelectroscope

From electro- + -scope.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.