Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “councilman” come from?

Councilman derives from English council and English man, with council from Old French conseil, ultimately from Latin concilium, formed from the prefix com- meaning "together" and a root relating to calling or assembly.

councilman (English): A male member of a council, especially a city...

Definitions

  1. A male member of a council, especially a city...

Ancestry of “councilman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcouncilA committee that leads or governs; Discussion or...
2Middle Englishcounseil—
3Old Frenchconseilpiece of advice
4Latinconsiliumplan, intention, design, purpose; counsel,...
5Latincōnsulō—
6Latincom-allomorph of con-
7Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt—
14Germankitt—
15Old High Germankuti—
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
19Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “councilman”

  • councilmanic
  • councilmanship
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →