Centauridae
/ˌsɛn.tɔːˈrɪ.diː/noun
A taxonomic family name formed from Centaurus, referring to a family or group of centaurs.
Did you know?The ending “-idae” is the formal zoological family suffix, derived from Greek patronymic forms meaning “the descendants or family of,” giving mythical creatures a biological-sounding lineage.
Etymological Timeline
Possibly Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*táwros
“A reconstructed word associated with the bull; its connection to Greek kentauros is proposed but not certain.”
8th–7th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Κένταυρος (kéntauros)
“Centaur, the mythic human-horse hybrid.”
Classical Antiquity
Ancient Greek
Κενταυρίδαι (Kentaurídai)
“The female descendants or family of the Centaurs; a patronymic plural form.”
1st Century BCE onward
Latin
centaurus
“Centaur, borrowed from Greek kentauros.”
18th–19th Century
New Latin
Centauridae
“A taxonomic family-style formation using Centaurus plus the zoological suffix -idae.”
Modern English
English
Centauridae
“A formal or scholarly family name meaning “the family of centaurs.””
Explore more surprising origins