Where does “lady-in-waiting” come from?
lady-in-waiting (English) comes from English waiting, from English wait, from Middle English waiten, from Anglo-Norman waiter, from Frankish wahtwēn, from Frankish wahtu, from Proto-Germanic wahtwō, from Proto-Germanic wakaną — lively, awake; strong.
lady-in-waiting (English): A lady, often a noblewoman, in the household of a queen, princess, or other woman of higher rank who attends her as a personal assistant, generally a role considered an honour
Definitions
- A lady, often a noblewoman, in the household of a queen, princess, or other woman of higher rank who attends her as a personal assistant, generally a role considered an honour
Ancestry of “lady-in-waiting”, step by step
lady-in-waiting traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English waiting
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | waiting | present participle of wait; Watching; The act of... |
| 2 | English | wait | To delay movement or action until the arrival or... |
| 3 | Middle English | waiten | to look at, behold |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | waiter | — |
| 5 | Frankish | wahtwēn | to guard, protect; to keep watch |
| 6 | Frankish | wahtu | watch, guard; watch, guard duty, watchtower;... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | wahtwō | watch, vigil |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | wakaną | to wake, be awake, arise |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | weǵ- | lively, awake; strong |
via English lady
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lady | The mistress of a household; A woman of breeding... |
| 2 | Middle English | lady | A woman with authority or leadership |
| 3 | Old English | hlǣfdīġe | bread-kneader; mistress of a household, wife of a... |
| 4 | Old English | hlāf | bread, loaf; bread, loaf, morsel; loaf, cake,... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hlaib | bread, loaf |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hlaibaz | bread |