primosome

P3R1I1M3O1S1O1M3E1

noun

A complex of proteins required for the initiation of bacterial DNA synthesis

OriginAncient Greek σῶμα (sôma) ← Proto-Hellenic *styṓmə? ← Proto-Indo-European *(s)tyoH-mn̥ →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounprimosome (plural primosomes)

plural primosomes

  1. biochemistryA complex of proteins required for the initiation of bacterial DNA synthesis

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*preh₂-
  3. Proto-Italic*pri
  4. Proto-Italic*prīzmos
  5. Latinprimus
  6. Proto-Indo-European*tewh₂-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*twoH-mn̥
  8. Proto-Hellenic*twṓmə?
  9. Proto-Indo-European*styeH-
  10. Proto-Indo-European*(s)tyoH-mn̥
  11. Proto-Hellenic*styṓmə?
  12. Ancient Greekσῶμα (sôma)
  13. Englishprimosome

From Latin primus (“first”) + English -some (“nucleic unit”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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