onto-

word-forming element meaning "a being, individual; being, existence," from stem of Greek on (genitive ontos) "being," neuter present participle of einai "to be" (from PIE root *es- "to be").

Entries linking to onto-

ontic (adj.)

a word in philosophy, variously defined but in general "pertaining to the existence of structure in an entity," 1949, from onto- + -ic.

ontogeny (n.)

"development of an individual living organism, history of the individual development of a living being," 1872, from onto- + -geny. Related: Ontogenic; ontogenesis.

ontology

*es-

See all related words (4) >

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impresario

participle of imprendere "undertake," from Vulgar Latin *imprendere, from assimilated form of Latin in- "into, in, on, onto...

slipper

loose, light indoor footwear, late 14c., agent noun from slip (v.), the notion being of a shoe that is easily "slipped" onto...

agglomeration

Latin agglomerationem (nominative agglomeratio), noun of action from past-participle stem of agglomerare "to wind or add onto...

impale

a sense continued in specialized uses into 19c.), from French empaler or directly from Medieval Latin impalare "to push onto...

nail

Old English næglian "to fix or fasten (something) onto (something else) with nails," from Proto-Germanic *ganaglijan (source...

board

The meaning "get onto" a ship (1590s, from n.2), was transferred mid-19c. to stages, railway cars, and later aircraft, etc...

poach

kill and carry off game in violation of the law" is attested from 1610s, perhaps via the notion of "thrusting" oneself onto...

Vatican

1550s, from Latin mons Vaticanus, Roman hill on which Papal palace stands. By Klein's sources said to be an Etruscan loan-word and unrelated to vates "soothsayer, prophet, seer" (see vates), but most others seem to think it is related, on the notion of "hill of prophecy" (compare

haywire

"soft wire for binding bales of hay," by 1891, from hay + wire (n.). Adjective meaning "poorly equipped, makeshift" is 1905, American English, from the sense of something held together only with haywire, particularly said to be from use of the stuff in New England lumber camps fo

martyr

"one who bears testimony to faith," especially "one who willingly suffers death rather than surrender his or her religious faith," specifically "one of the Christians who in former times were put to death because they would not renounce their beliefs," late Old English martyr, fr

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updated on August 27, 2019

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