eth-

prefix

Used as a combining form to denote the presence of 2 carbon atoms in the parent chain when forming names of organic compounds.

OriginEnglish ethyl ← German Ethy ← Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) →
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Meanings

prefix
  1. chemistryUsed as a combining form to denote the presence of 2 carbon atoms in the parent chain when forming names of organic compounds.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eydʰ-
  2. Proto-Hellenic*áitʰō
  3. Ancient Greekαἴθω (aíthō)
  4. Ancient Greekᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)influ.?
  5. Ancient Greekαἰθήρ (aithḗr)
  6. Latinaethēr
  7. GermanÄther
  8. GermanEther
  9. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  10. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  11. GermanEthy
  12. Englishethyl
  13. Englisheth-

From ethyl. Ultimately from Ancient Greek αἰθήρ (aithḗr, “ether”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

eth-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eth-

MLA

“eth-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eth-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “eth-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/eth-.

Source: eth- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.