Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Presbyterian” come from?

Presbyterian derives from English presbyter, from Latin -ianus and Latin -ius suffixes applied to Ancient Greek πρέσβυς meaning elder, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per- and -yós.

Presbyterian (English): Of or pertaining to a presbyter, or to...

Definitions

  1. Of or pertaining to a presbyter, or to...

Ancestry of “Presbyterian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpresbyterA priest or minister in various churches; An...
2Late Latinpresbyteran elder, presbyter
3Ancient Greekπρεσβύτεροςolder of two people; advanced in life, senior; a...
4Ancient Greekπρέσβυςelderly, aged; old man; elder, chief, prince
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “Presbyterian”

  • presbyterianism
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →