fissile (adj.)

1660s, from Latin fissilis "that which may be cleft or split," from fissus, past participle of findere "cleave, split, separate, divide" (from PIE root *bheid- "to split").

Entries linking to fissile

*bheid-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to split," with derivatives in Germanic "referring to biting (hence also to eating and to hunting) and woodworking" [Watkins].

It forms all or part of: abet; bait (n.) "food used to attract prey;" bait (v.) "to torment, persecute;" bateau; beetle (n.1) "type of insect; bit (n.1) "small piece;" bite; bitter; bitter end; boat; boatswain; -fid; fissile; fission; fissure; giblets; pita; pizza; vent (n.).

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit bhinadmi "I cleave," Latin Latin findere "to split, cleave, separate, divide," Old High German bizzan "to bite," Old English bita "a piece bitten off, morsel," Old Norse beita "to hunt with dogs," beita "pasture, food."

Others are reading

Share fissile

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/fissile

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/fissile">Etymology of fissile by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of fissile. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/fissile

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of fissile,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/fissile.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of fissile.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/fissile. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of fissile.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/fissile (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of fissile

fissile (adj.)

capable of being split or cleft or divided in the direction of the grain;

fissile wood

fissile crystals

fissile (adj.)

capable of undergoing nuclear fission;

Synonyms: fissionable

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near fissile

fish-tail

fish-tank

fishwife

fishy

fisk

fissile

fission

fissure

fist

fistful

fistiana