Etymology

viroid

V4I1R1O1I1D2

Today it means: Any of many short sections of RNA, but without the protein coat typical of viruses (the capsid), that are plant pathogens. Full definition →

Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos) ← Proto-Hellenic *wéidos ← Proto-Indo-European *wéydos
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*weys-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wisós
  3. Proto-Italic*weizos
  4. Latinvīrus
  5. Middle Englishvirus
  6. Englishvirus
  7. Proto-Indo-European*weyd-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*wéydos
  9. Proto-Hellenic*wéidos
  10. Ancient Greekεἶδος (eîdos)
  11. English todayviroid

From virus + -oid.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.