Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “mentor” come from?

Mentor comes from French mentor, derived from Ancient Greek Μέντωρ, from Proto-Hellenic méntōr, from Proto-Indo-European méntōr, ultimately from the root men-.

mentor (English): A wise and trusted counselor or teacher; To act...

Definitions

  1. A wise and trusted counselor or teacher; To act...

Ancestry of “mentor”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchmentormentor, guide
2Ancient GreekΜέντωρMentor
3Proto-Hellenicméntōr—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanméntōr—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

Words derived from “mentor”

  • mentorship
  • mentoree
  • telementor
  • mentorial
  • mentorlike
  • mentorless
  • e-mentor
  • e-mentorship
  • mentorish
  • mentor
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →