Cisternal
/sɪˈstɜːn.əl/noun
Relating to a cistern or reservoir.
Did you know?Cisternal comes from the same Latin root as *cistern*, ultimately from *cista* meaning a box or chest, because a cistern was imagined as a sealed container for water.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱey-
“to lie down, rest; to set, place”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kistē
“a box, chest, or basket”
Latin
Latin
cista
“a box, chest, or container”
Late Latin
Latin
cisterna
“a water tank, reservoir, or storage pit”
Middle English
English
cisterne
“a reservoir or tank for collecting water”
Modern English
English
cisternal
“relating to a cistern or reservoir”