Where does “citizen” come from?

Citizen comes from Middle English citezein, from Old French citezein, derived from Old French cité meaning city, from Latin civitas meaning state or community, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- meaning to lie or settle.

citizen (English): A resident of a city or town, especially one with...

Definitions

  1. A resident of a city or town, especially one with...

Ancestry of “citizen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishciteseynA freeman or burgher: a legally-recognized member...
2Anglo-Normancitesainburgher; city-dweller
3Old Frenchciteain—
4Old Frenchcitécity
5Latincīvitās—
6Proto-Italickeiwissociety; citizen
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle

Words derived from “citizen”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →