Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “chancellor” come from?

chancellor (English) comes from English chaunceler, from Middle Dutch cancelier, from Latin cancellārius, from Latin cancelli, from Latin cancer, from Proto-Italic kankros, from Proto-Italic karkros, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥-kr̥- — to cut, cut off, sever.

chancellor (English): A senior secretary or official with...

Definitions

  1. A senior secretary or official with...

Ancestry of “chancellor”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishchauncelerObsolete form of chancellor
2Middle Dutchcancelier—
3Latincancellārius—
4Latincancelliinflection of cancellus: ## genitive singular ##...
5Latincancera crab; a tumor, cancer; a lattice, grid, or...
6Proto-Italickankroscrab
7Proto-Italickarkrosenclosure, barrier
8Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-kr̥-circular
9Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
10Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever

Words derived from “chancellor”

  • chancellorship
  • archchancellor
  • chancelloress
  • pro-vice-chancellor
  • vice-chancellor
  • chanceler
  • चांसलर
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →