Sealife
/ˈsiː.laɪf/noun
Plants, animals, and other organisms that live in the sea.
Did you know?The “life” in sealife belongs to an ancient Indo-European word-family also connected with English “quick,” once meaning alive or living.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sai- / *sēi-
“A reconstructed Indo-European root associated with moisture or flowing water, possibly underlying later Germanic words for sea; its exact reconstruction is debated.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*saiwiz
“Sea or large body of water; the source of Germanic forms that developed into English sea.”
Old English
Old English
sǣ
“Sea, ocean, or a large expanse of salt water.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷeyh₃w-
“To live, be alive, or be vigorous; the ancient root behind the life-word family.”
Old English
Old English
līf
“Life, existence, or the condition of being alive.”
Modern English
English
sea-life / sealife
“A compound meaning the living organisms found in the sea; “sea life” remains the more common modern spelling.”