Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “matronal” come from?

matronal (English) comes from English matron, from Middle English matrone, from Old French matrone, from Latin mātrōna, from Latin māter, from Ancient Greek ἄρχω, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ergʰ- — to begin; to command, rule; to begin, rule,...

matronal (English): Of, or pertaining to, a matron

Definitions

  1. Of, or pertaining to, a matron

Ancestry of “matronal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmatronA mature or elderly woman; A wife or a widow,...
2Middle EnglishmatroneA wife; Such a woman who can examine a man too...
3Old Frenchmatronesenior, respectable woman
4Latinmātrōna—
5Latinmāter—
6Ancient GreekἄρχωTo begin; To lead, rule, govern, command; To be...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ergʰ-to begin; to command, rule; to begin, rule,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ergʰ- →