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lem·ma¹

(lĕmə)

n. pl. lem·mas or lem·ma·ta (lĕmə-tə)

1. A subsidiary proposition assumed to be valid and used to demonstrate a principal proposition.

2. A theme, argument, or subject indicated in a title.

3. A word or phrase treated in a glossary or similar listing.

[Latin lēmma, from Greek, from lambanein, to take.]

lem·ma²

(lĕmə)

The lower of the two bracts that enclose each floret in a grass spikelet.

[Greek, husk, from lepein, to peel.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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