Where does “bishop” come from?
Bishop comes from Middle English bischop, Old English bisċop, Latin episcopus, and Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος, derived from ἐπισκοπέω meaning to oversee, from σκοπέω to look or examine, ultimately from σκοπός meaning watcher.
bishop (English): An overseer of congregations: either any such...
Definitions
- An overseer of congregations: either any such...
Ancestry of “bishop”, step by step
bishop traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English bischop
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bischop | bishop; A clergy member ranking a bishop or... |
| 2 | Old English | bisċop | bishop |
| 3 | Latin | episcopus | an overseer, supervisor, bishop in a Christian... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἐπίσκοπος | watcher, guardian; scout, watch; overseer,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἐπισκοπέω | I watch over |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἐπι- | on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἐπί | as well, besides; For usage in composition, see... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | Ἡμέρα | — |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | ἦμαρ | day; by day; midday |
| 10 | Proto-Hellenic | ā́mər | day |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃mr̥ | heat |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃- | to be hot; to burn |
via Middle English biscop
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | biscop | Alternative form of bischop |
via Middle English bisshop
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bisshop | Alternative form of bischop |