Where does “matron” come from?
Matron comes from Middle English matrone, from Old French matrone, from Latin matrona, ultimately derived from Latin mater and Proto-Indo-European méh₂tēr, meaning mother.
matron (English): A mature or elderly woman; A wife or a widow,...
Definitions
- A mature or elderly woman; A wife or a widow,...
Ancestry of “matron”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | matrone | A wife; Such a woman who can examine a man too... |
| 2 | Old French | matrone | senior, respectable woman |
| 3 | Latin | mātrōna | — |
| 4 | Latin | māter | mother female parent |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἄρχω | To begin; To lead, rule, govern, command; To be... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ergʰ- | to begin; to command, rule; to begin, rule,... |