Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “clientelism” come from?

Clientelism derives from English clientele, from French clientèle, from Latin cliens, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-, meaning to hear or be called.

clientelism (English): A political system based on personal relations...

Definitions

  1. A political system based on personal relations...

Ancestry of “clientelism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishclientèleAlternative form of clientele
2Frenchclientèleclientele
3Latinclientēla—
4Latincliēns—
5LatinclueoI am called or named; I am reputed
6Proto-Italickluēō—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →