Etymograph

English

aporia

Aporia comes from Ancient Greek ἀπορία ‘a difficulty in passage’, from ἄπορος ‘impassable’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘to pass, go forth’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-1‘to pass, go forth’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pér-ye-ti1reconstructedye-present of *per-
  3. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*péryō1reconstructed
  4. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπείρω2peírō‘to pierce, to run through’
  5. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπόρος3póros‘passage’o-grade of πείρω
  6. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἄπορος3áporos‘impassable’
  7. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀπορία3aporía‘a difficulty in passage’
  8. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaporia3
  9. Englishearliest quotation 1835aporia3

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, Ancient Greek πείρω
  2. 2 Wiktionary, Ancient Greek πόρος
  3. 3 Wiktionary, English aporia
  4. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1835, Larret Langley, [Rhetorical Figures.] Aporia.: “Aporia oft in doubt and fear will rest, And…”.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-Wiktionary, Ancient Greek πείρω‘to pass, go forth’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pér-ye-tiWiktionary, Ancient Greek πείρωreconstructedye-present of *per-
  3. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*péryōWiktionary, Ancient Greek πείρωreconstructed
  4. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπείρωWiktionary, Ancient Greek πόροςpeírō‘to pierce, to run through’
  5. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπόροςWiktionary, English aporiapóros‘passage’o-grade of πείρω
  6. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἄποροςWiktionary, English aporiaáporos‘impassable’
  7. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀπορίαWiktionary, English aporiaaporía‘a difficulty in passage’
  8. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaporiaWiktionary, English aporia
  9. Englishearliest quotation 1835aporiaWiktionary, English aporia. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1835, Larret Langley, [Rhetorical Figures.] Aporia.: “Aporia oft in doubt and fear will rest, And…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘to pass, go forth’

first, before, far, per, further, press, support, practice, private, price, fear, pre, report, primary, opportunity, pregnant, prime, practical, appreciate, afford, precious, prize, prior, transport, praise, interpretation, importance, ford, sport, parade, par, forth, port, ferry, privilege, pirate, fare, pardon, primitive, interpreter, 152 more

through Ancient Greek πείρω ‘to pierce, to run through’

prismatic, prion, 12 more

through Ancient Greek πόρος ‘passage’

pore, emporium, 5 more

Today it means

noun An expression of deliberation with oneself regarding uncertainty or doubt as to how to proceed.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “aporia”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entries for Ancient Greek πείρω, Ancient Greek πόρος. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *per- / aporia

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