英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

poltergeist (n.)[poltergeist 词源字典]: 1838, from German Poltergeist, literally "noisy ghost," from poltern "make noise, rattle" (from PIE root *bhel- (4) "to sound, ring, roar;" source of bellow, bell) + Geist "ghost" (see ghost). In the native idiom of Northern England, such phenomenon likely would be credited to a boggart.[poltergeist etymology, poltergeist origin, 英语词源]
poltroon (n.): "A coward; a nidgit; a scoundrel" [Johnson, who spells it poltron], 1520s, from Middle French poultron "rascal, coward" (16c., Modern French poltron), from Italian poltrone "lazy fellow, coward," apparently from *poltro "couch, bed" (compare Milanese polter, Venetian poltrona "couch"), perhaps from a Germanic source (compare Old High German polstar "pillow;" see bolster (n.)). Also see -oon.
poly-: word-forming element meaning "many, much, multi-, one or more," from Greek poly-, combining form of polys "much" (plural polloi); cognate with Latin plus, from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill," with derivatives referring to multitudinousness or abundance (cognates: Sanskrit purvi "much," prayah "mostly;" Avestan perena-, Old Persian paru "much;" Greek plethos "people, multitude, great number," polys "much, plenty," ploutos "wealth;" Lithuanian pilus "full, abundant;" Old Church Slavonic plunu; Gothic filu "much," Old Norse fjöl-, Old English fela, feola "much, many;" Old English folgian; Old Irish lan, Welsh llawn "full;" Old Irish il, Welsh elu "much"); probably related to root *pele- (2) "to spread."

Properly used in compounds only with words of Greek origin. In chemical names, usually indicating a compound with a large number of atoms or molecules of the same kind (such as polymer).
polyamorous (adj.): by 1972, from poly- + amorous. Related: Polyamory.
polyandria (n.): 1751 in botany; 1809 of human relationships, from poly- "many" andr-, stem of aner "man, husband" (see anthropo-) + -ia "condition of." Late Greek polyandria meant "populousness."
polyandrous (adj.): 1764, in botany, "having numerous stamens," from poly- + stem of aner "man, husband" (see anthropo-). From 1854 of humans, "having more than one husband." Greek polyandros meant "numerous" (of persons), "populous" (of places); polyanor meant "of many husbands."
polyandry (n.): 1767, nativized form of polyandria. Related: Polyandrist.
polycentric (adj.): 1826, from poly- + centric.
polychrome (adj.): "having many colors," 1816, from French polychrome, from Latinized form of Greek polykhromos "many-colored" (see poly- + chrome). As a noun from 1800. Related: Polychromic; polychromatic; polychromate.
polyclinic (n.): "place for treatment of various diseases," 1890, from poly- "many" + clinic.
polydactyl (n.): 1894, from French polydactyle (adj.) "having more fingers and toes than is usual," from Greek polydaktylos; see poly- + dactyl. As an adjective from 1874. Related: Polydactyly; polydactylism (1868).
polydipsia (n.): "excessive thirst," 1650s, from Greek polydipsios "very thirsty," from poly- (see poly-) + dipsa "thirst" + -ia "condition of."
Polydorus: Priam's youngest son (Homer), from Latin Polydorus, from Greek Polydoros "one who has received many gifts," noun use of adjective meaning "richly endowed," from polys "much, many" (see poly-) + doron "gift" (see date (n.1)).
polyester (n.): 1929, formed from polymer + ester. Polyester fiber was discovered 1941.
polyethylene (n.): polymer of ethylene, 1862, from French polyéthylène; see poly- + ethylene. Related: Polyethylenic (1860).
polygamous (adj.): 1610s, from polygamy + -ous, or else from Late Greek polygamos "often married." Related: Polygamously.
polygamy (n.): 1590s, from Late Latin polygamia, from Late Greek polygamia "polygamy," from polygamos "often married," from polys "many" + gamos "marriage" (see gamete). Not etymologically restricted to marriage of one man and multiple women (technically polygyny), but often used as if it were. Related: Polygamist.
polygenesis (n.): "plurality of origins," 1858, from poly- + -genesis "birth, origin, creation." Related: Polygenetic (1851).
polygenic (adj.): 1823, from poly- + -genic. Used in chemistry from 1873 for "forming two or more compounds" (with hydrogen or another univalent element). Related: Polygenetic.
polygenous (adj.): "composed of many kinds," 1797; see poly- + genus.