supercontinent

Meaninga combined continent

Common meaning: a huge landmass that later split into continents

superover, above
conwith, together; thoroughly
tinto hold, keep hold ofLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1853 · scan
entadjective ending: being or doing

‘over, above’ + ‘with, together’ + ‘to hold, keep hold of’ → supercontinent

Journey through time

Latinteneō, tenuī, tentum‘to hold, keep hold of’
Englishsupercontinent‘a huge landmass that later split into continents’ · today

super- also in: supervene supervise superficial superfluous superintend

con- also in: convex convey concave conceal concede

tin also in: discontent discontinue pertinacious discontinuation

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.
US IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.

Origin: Built on Latin teneō ‘to hold, keep hold of’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry teneō, p. 1853 · dictionary scan

Roots

teneō, tenuī, tentum Latin “to hold, keep hold of”

Related words

abstain detain discontent discontinuation discontinue obtain pertinacious rein sustain

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