Etymology
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*ghes-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "the hand." 

It forms all or part of: chiral; chiro-; chirognomy; chirography; chirology; chiromancy; chiropodist; chiropractic; chiropractor; chirosophy; chirurgeon; enchiridion; surgeon; surgery; surgical.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek kheir, Hittite keshshar, Armenian jern "the hand" 

Entries linking to *ghes-

chiral (adj.)

in reference to three-dimensional forms not superposable on their mirror-images, 1894, a hybrid coined by Lord Kelvin from Latinized combining form of Greek kheir "hand" (from PIE root *ghes- "hand") + -al (1). Related: Chiralism "right-left handedness" (by 2012).

chiro- 

less properly cheiro-, before vowels chir-, word-forming element meaning "hand," from Latinized form of Greek kheiro-, combining form of kheir (genitive kheiros) "the hand," from PIE root *ghes- "hand."

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Dictionary entries near *ghes-

*ghend-

Ghent

*gher-

*ghere-

gherkin

*ghes-

ghetto

*gheu-

Ghibelline

*ghieh-

ghost

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper