Where does “forerunner” come from?
Forerunner derives from Middle English forrenner, a compound of for- and renner, meaning one who runs before.
forerunner (English): A runner at the front or ahead; By extension, a...
Definitions
- A runner at the front or ahead; By extension, a...
Ancestry of “forerunner”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | forrenner | — |
| 2 | Latin | praecursor | forerunner, vanguard; spy; vocative singular of... |
| 3 | Latin | praecurrō | to run before |
| 4 | Latin | prae- | before; in front; in charge |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | prai- | pre-, before |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |