An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The ground or parts situated, or represented as situated, in the front; the portion of a scene or stellar field nearest to the viewer. → background.

Etymology (EN): From fore, from O.E. fore (prep.) “before, in front of;” (adv.) “before, previously” (cf. O.H.G. fora, Ger. vor, Goth. faiura); from PIE *per-/*pr- (cf. Skt. pura “before, formerly;” Av. paro “before;” Hittite para- “on, forth;” Gk. paros “before,” para “from beside, beyond,” peri “around, about, toward,” pro “before;” L. pro “before, for, instead of,” prae “before,” per “through, for”) + ground,
from M.E., from O.E. grund; akin to O.H.G. grunt “ground.”

Etymology (PE): Pišzaminé, from piš- “before; in front,” from Mid.Pers. pêš “before, earlier;” O.Pers. paišiya “before; in the presence of”

• ziminé “ground,” from zamin “earth, ground” → earth.