Where does “duce” come from?
duce (English) comes from Italian duce, from Latin dux, from Latin dūcō, from Proto-Italic doukō, from Proto-Indo-European déwketi, from Proto-Indo-European dewk- — to pull, to draw; to lead.
duce (English): An authoritarian leader, especially Benito Mussolini
Definitions
- An authoritarian leader, especially Benito Mussolini
Ancestry of “duce”, step by step
duce traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Italian duce
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italian | duce | captain, leader, helm; An authoritarian leader |
| 2 | Latin | dux | leader, head; commander, general, captain;... |
| 3 | Latin | dūcō | to lead, guide, conduct, lead away |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | doukō | lead |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | déwketi | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dewk- | to pull, to draw; to lead |
via English douce
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | douce | Sweet; nice; pleasant; Serious and quiet; steady,... |
| 2 | Middle English | douce | Pleasant, sweet, nice, kind; Sweet to the taste;... |
| 3 | Old French | douz | Alternative form of dous |
| 4 | Latin | dulcis | sweet; sweet-smelling, sweet-scented, fragrant;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dl̥kú- | sweet |