Porous
/ˈpɔːrəs/noun
Having tiny holes or spaces that allow liquids or gases to pass through.
Did you know?Porous ultimately traces back to Greek *poros*, a “passage” or “ford,” the same root behind the ancient idea of crossing from one state to another.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to cross over, pass through”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πόρος (poros)
“a passage, way through, ford, or means of passage”
Late Latin
Latin
porosus
“full of pores, porous”
Old French
Old French
poros
“porous; full of small openings”
14th–15th Century
English
porous
“having pores; full of tiny openings”
Modern English
English
porous
“allowing liquid or air to pass through small openings”