Astro- | Meaning Of Suffix Astro- By Etymonline

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Origin and history of astro-

astro-

element active in English word formation from mid-18c. and meaning "star or celestial body; outer space," from Greek astro-, stem and combining form of astron "star," which is related to aster "star," from PIE root *ster- (2) "star." In ancient Greek, aster typically was "a star" and astron mostly in plural, "the stars." In singular it mostly meant "Sirius" (the brightest star).

also from mid-18c.

Entries linking to astro-

astrobiology(n.)

1903, from French astrobiologie; see astro- "star" + biology. Related: Astrobiological; astrobiologist.

astrobleme(n.)

"crypto-explosion structure on Earth caused by meteorite or asteroid impact," 1961, literally "star-wound," from astro- "star" + Greek bleme "throw of a missile; wound caused by a missile," from ballein "to throw" (from PIE root *gwele- "to throw, reach"). Coined by U.S. geologist Robert S. Dietz.

• astrognosy
• astrography
• astrolatry
• astromancy
• astronaut
• astrophotography
• astrophysicist
• AstroTurf
• *ster-
• See All Related Words (11)

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astronaut"space-traveler," 1929 in scientific speculation, popularized from 1961 by U.S. space program, a compound from Greek elements, from astro- "star" + Greek nautēs "sailor" (from PIE root *nau- "boat"). French astronautique (adj.) had been coined 1927 by "J.H. Rosny," pen name of BedisasterItalian disastro, literally "ill-starred," from dis-, here merely pejorative, equivalent to English mis- "ill" (see dis-) + astro...mitigateearly 15c., "relieve (pain); make mild or more tolerable; reduce in amount or degree," from Latin mitigatus, past participle of mitigare "soften, make tender, ripen, mellow, tame," figuratively, "make mild or gentle, pacify, soothe," ultimately from mitis "gentle, soft" + root ofimminent1520s, from French imminent (14c.) and directly from Latin imminentem (nominative imminens) "overhanging; impending," present participle of imminere "to overhang, lean towards," hence "be near to," also "threaten, menace, impend, be at hand, be about to happen," from assimilated Saxonc. 1200, Sexun, Saxun, "member of a people or tribe formerly living in northern Germania who invaded and settled in Britain 5c.-6c.," from Late Latin Saxonem (nominative Saxo; also source of Old French saisoigne, French Saxon, Spanish Sajon, Italian Sassone), usually found in pluunderminec. 1300, undermyne, "render unstable by digging at the foundation," from under + mine (v.1) "dig." The figurative sense "injure by invisible, secret, or dishonorable means" is attested from early 15c. Similar formation in Dutch ondermijnen, Danish underminere, German unterminirenexcelsiorLatin excelsior "higher," comparative of excelsus (adj.) "high, elevated, lofty," past participle of excellere "to rise, surpass, be superior, be eminent," from ex "out from" (see ex-) + -cellere "rise high, tower," related to celsus "high, lofty, great," from PIE root *kel- (2) leviathanlate 14c., "sea monster, sea serpent," sometimes regarded as a form of Satan, from Late Latin leviathan, from Hebrew livyathan "dragon, serpent, huge sea animal," of unknown origin, perhaps from root l-w-h- "to wind, turn, twist," on the notion of a serpent's coils. If so, relateguineaformer British coin, 1660s, from Guinea, because the coins were first minted for British trade with Guinea (but soon in domestic use) and with gold from Africa. The original guinea was in use from 1663 to 1813....region along the west coast of Africa, presumably from an African wdelirium1590s, "a disordered state, more or less temporary, of the mind, often occurring during fever or illness," from Latin delirium "madness," from deliriare "be crazy, rave," literally "go off the furrow," a plowing metaphor, from phrase de lire, from de "off, away" (see de-) + lira

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/astro-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/astro-">Etymology of astro- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of astro-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/astro-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of astro-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed December 31, 2025, https://www.etymonline.com/word/astro-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of astro-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/astro-. Accessed 31 December, 2025.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of astro-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/astro- (accessed December 31, 2025).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near astro-

• astray
• astriction
• Astrid
• astride
• astringent
• astro-
• astrobiology
• astrobleme
• astrognosy
• astrography
• astroid

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