Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “archbishop” come from?

Archbishop derives from Middle English erchebischop, from Old English ærċebisċop, from Late Latin archiepiscopus, from Ancient Greek ἀρχιεπίσκοπος, combining ἀρχι- (chief) and σκοπός (watcher or overseer).

archbishop (English): A senior bishop who is in charge of an...

Definitions

  1. A senior bishop who is in charge of an...

Ancestry of “archbishop”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englisherchebischoparchbishop; archbishopric, archdiocese
2Old Englisharċebisċop—
3Latinarchiepiscopusarchbishop; a bishop who heads or presides over a...
4Ancient Greekἀρχιεπίσκοπος—
5Ancient Greekἐπίσκοποςwatcher, guardian; scout, watch; overseer,...
6Ancient GreekἐπισκοπέωI watch over
7Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
8Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
9Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
10Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
11Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
13Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn

Words derived from “archbishop”

  • archbishopess
  • archbishopship
  • archbishophood
  • asbisop
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →