Where does “clerical” come from?
Clerical comes from Late Latin clericalis, from Latin -alis, from Ancient Greek κληρικός, from Ancient Greek κλῆρος meaning lot or inheritance, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kold- and kola-.
clerical (English): Of or relating to clerks or their work; Of or...
Definitions
- Of or relating to clerks or their work; Of or...
Ancestry of “clerical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Late Latin | clericalis | clerical; clerical, priestly |
| 2 | Latin | clēricus | a priest, clergyman or clergywoman, cleric |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | κληρικός | of or pertaining to clergy; clerical; clergyman |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | -ικός | of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -κός | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -ḱos | -y, -ic |