Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “eminence” come from?

Eminence derives from Old French eminence, from Latin eminentia meaning "prominence" or "standing out," formed with the Latin suffix -ia from the Latin verb meaning "to stand forth."

eminence (English): Someone of high rank, reputation or social...

Definitions

  1. Someone of high rank, reputation or social...

Ancestry of “eminence”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frencheminence—
2Latineminentiaprominence, protuberance; eminence, excellence;...
3Latineminenseminent, distinguished, notable; lofty, towering;...
4Latinēmineō—
5Latinē-—
6Latinēx-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeaneǵ-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European eǵ- →