Etymology of 'photograph': Where Does the Word Come From?
When photography was invented, scientists combined Greek words for "light" and "write" because photographs are essentially written by light.
Origin
Greek
Word roots
- photo — light
- graph — write, draw
Literal meaning
light writing
First used
1839
Related words
- photosynthesis — light putting together
- autograph — self writing
- paragraph — beside writing
Fun fact
The first photograph ever taken required an 8-hour exposure time!
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