Hetero- | Meaning Of Prefix Hetero- By Etymonline

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Origin and history of hetero-

hetero-

before vowels heter-, word-forming element meaning "other, different," from Greek heteros "the other (of two), another, different; second; other than usual." It is a compound; the first element means "one, at one, together," from PIE root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with;" the second is cognate with the second element in Latin al-ter, Gothic an-þar, Old English o-ðer "other."

Compounds in classical Greek show the range of the word there: Heterokretes "true Cretan," (that is, of the old stock); heteroglossos "of foreign language;" heterozelos "zealous for one side;" heterotropos "of a different sort or fashion," literally "turning the other way;" heterophron "raving," literally "of other mind."

Entries linking to hetero-

heteroclite(adj.)

in reference to a word (especially a noun) irregularly inflected, 1570s, from French hétéroclite, from Late Latin heteroclitus, from Greek heteroklitos "irregularly inflected," from hetero- "different" (see hetero-) + verbal adjective from klinein "to lean," from PIE root *klei- "to lean." Figuratively, of persons, "deviating from the ordinary," from 1590s.

heterodox(adj.)

"not in accordance with established doctrines," 1630s, from Greek heterodoxos "of another or different opinion," from heteros "the other" (see hetero-) + doxa "opinion," from dokein "to appear, seem, think," from PIE *dok-eye-, suffixed (causative) form of root *dek- "to take, accept."

• heterogeneous
• heterography
• heteromorphic
• heteronomy
• heteronym
• heterophemy
• heterosexual
• heterotroph
• heterotrophy
• heterozygous
• *sem-
• homo-
• See All Related Words (14)

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heterogeneous"diverse in kind or nature," 1620s, from Medieval Latin heterogeneus, from Greek heterogenes, from heteros "different" (see hetero-) + genos "kind, gender, race stock" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget," with derivatives referring to procreation and familial and tribal groheteronym"word having the same spelling as another but with a different sound and meaning," 1889, also "a thing's name in one language that is an exact translation of its name in another" (1885); from hetero- "other, different" + -onym "name" (from PIE root *no-men- "name"). Distinction fspick-and-spanalso spic-and-span, "very neat, clean, and trim," 1660s, from spick-and-span-new "new and fresh" (1570s), literally "new as a recently made spike and wood-chip." It seems to be an elaboration, with spick "nail" (see spike (n.1)), of older span-new "very new," in reference to someminionc. 1500, "a favorite; a darling, one who or that which is beloved" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French mignon "a favorite, darling" (n.), also a term of (probably homosexual) abuse; as an adjective, "dainty, pleasing, favorite," from mignot "pretty, attractive, dainty, gracioGothOld English Gota (plural Gotan) "a member of the Germanic people who lived in Eastern Europe c.100 C.E.," from Late Latin Gothus (plural Gothi), from Greek Gothos (plural Gothoi), from Gothic *Gutos, which is preserved in Gothic gutþiuda "Gothic people," the first element cognatereprobateearly 15c., "rejected as worthless," from Late Latin reprobatus, past participle of reprobare "disapprove, reject, condemn," from Latin re- "back, again," here perhaps indicating "opposite of, reversal of previous condition" (see re-) + probare "prove to be worthy" (see probate (defectearly 15c., "want or lack of anything," especially lack of something essential to perfection or completeness, from Old French defect and directly from Latin defectus "failure, revolt, falling away," noun use of past participle of deficere "to fail, desert," from de "down, away" (crusade"military expedition under the banner of the cross," 1706, a respelling or replacement of croisade (1570s), from French croisade (16c.), Spanish cruzada, both from Medieval Latin cruciata, past participle of cruciare "to mark with a cross," from Latin crux (genitive crucis) "crosforkOld English forca, force "pitchfork, forked instrument, forked weapon," from a Germanic borrowing (Old Frisian forke, Dutch vork, Old Norse forkr, Danish fork) of Latin furca "two-pronged fork; pitchfork; fork used in cooking," a word of uncertain origin. Old English also had forscarf[band of silk, strip of cloth], 1550s, "a band worn across the body or over the shoulders," probably from Old North French escarpe "sash, sling," which probably is identical with Old French escherpe "pilgrim's purse suspended from the neck," perhaps from Frankish *skirpja or some

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/hetero-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/hetero-">Etymology of hetero- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of hetero-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/hetero-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of hetero-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed January 22, 2026, https://www.etymonline.com/word/hetero-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of hetero-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/hetero-. Accessed 22 January, 2026.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of hetero-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/hetero- (accessed January 22, 2026).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near hetero-

• Hestia
• het
• hetaera
• hetaerocracy
• hetero
• hetero-
• heteroclite
• heterodox
• heterodoxy
• heterogeneity
• heterogeneous

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