Where does “junior” come from?

Junior comes from Latin iúnior, the comparative form of iúvenis, which derives from Proto-Indo-European h₂yuh₁en-, ultimately related to the root h₂ey- meaning to live or vitality.

junior (English): Low in rank; having a subordinate role, job, or...

Definitions

  1. Low in rank; having a subordinate role, job, or...

Ancestry of “junior”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinjuniorAlternative form of iūnior
2Latiniuvenioryounger, more youthful
3Latiniuvenisyoung; A youth, a young man, young woman, young...
4Proto-Italic*juwōyoung
Every word from Proto-Italic *juwō