Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “matronliness” come from?

matronliness (English) comes from English matronly, 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,...

matronliness (English): The quality of being matronly

Definitions

  1. The quality of being matronly

Ancestry of “matronliness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmatronlyIn the capacity of a matron; serving as a...
2EnglishmatronA mature or elderly woman; A wife or a widow,...
3Middle EnglishmatroneA wife; Such a woman who can examine a man too...
4Old Frenchmatronesenior, respectable woman
5Latinmātrōna—
6Latinmāter—
7Ancient GreekἄρχωTo begin; To lead, rule, govern, command; To be...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ergʰ-to begin; to command, rule; to begin, rule,...
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