Etymology Explorer › Ancient Greek

Where does “πρεσβύτερος” come from?

πρεσβύτερος (Ancient Greek) comes from Ancient Greek πρέσβυς, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

πρεσβύτερος (Ancient Greek): older of two people; advanced in life, senior; a...

Definitions

  1. older of two people; advanced in life, senior; a...

Ancestry of “πρεσβύτερος”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekπρέσβυςelderly, aged; old man; elder, chief, prince
2Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “πρεσβύτερος”

  • priest
  • Preston
  • priestly
  • priestess
  • Presley
  • presbytery
  • presbyter
  • priestcraft
  • presbyterian
  • archpriest
  • presbyterial
  • presbyterate
  • presbyterianism
  • presbyteral
  • priestless
  • priestlike
  • priestling
  • unpriestly
  • priestliness
  • presbytera
  • prester
  • nonpriestly
  • archpresbyter
  • priesting
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →