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gram¹

(grăm)

n. Abbr. g or gm. or gr.

A metric unit of mass equal to one thousandth (10^-3) of a kilogram. See Table at measurement.

[French gramme, from Late Latin gramma, a small weight, from Greek, something written, small weight; see gerbh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

gram²

(grăm)

1. Any of several legumes, such as the chickpea, bearing seeds used as food.

2. The seeds of such a plant.

[Obsolete Portuguese, from Latin grānum, seed; see gə-no- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

gram³

(grăm)

n.
Informal

A grandmother.

[Shortening and alteration of GRAMMA¹ or GRANDMOTHER.]

-gram

suff.

Something written or drawn; a record: cardiogram.

[Greek -gramma, from gramma, letter; see gerbh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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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