fax

Meaning

1. (declension-3, feminine) torch, firebrand
2. (declension-3, feminine) fireball, comet
3. (declension-3, feminine) cause of ruin, incitement

Concepts

torch

comet

☄️

atmospheric phenomenon

aphelion

heavenly body

Synonyms

cometes

☄️

lanterna

🏮

taeda

Translations

Fackel

Komet

☄️

torcia

torche

antorcha

cometa

☄️

kuyruklu yıldız

☄️

Schweifstern

☄️

toorts

comète

☄️

fakkel

fiaccola

tocha

komeet

☄️

flambouw

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈfaks]

Etymology

Uncertain. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰwok(ʷ)- > Proto-Italic *fwak(ʷ)-. Potential cognates include facētus and Lithuanian žvakė (“candle”). Compare also Etruscan 𐌚𐌀𐌂𐌄 (face, “torch (?)”). Schrijver argues the -a- can be explained as going back to Proto-Indo-European *o, with unrounding after *w in an originally open syllable (as in the oblique case-forms). According to De Vaan, even if the Latin and Lithuanian words are cognate, the root structure is more consistent with a later loanword rather than a Proto-Indo-European formation.