Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “minster” come from?

Minster comes from Old English mynster, from Latin monasterium, from Ancient Greek μοναστήριον, ultimately derived from Ancient Greek μόνος meaning alone.

minster (English): A monastic church; A cathedral church without any...

Definitions

  1. A monastic church; A cathedral church without any...

Ancestry of “minster”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishmynsterAlternative form of ministre
2Old Englishmynster—
3Latinmonastērium—
4Ancient Greekμοναστήριονsolitary dwelling, hermit's cell; monastery
5Ancient Greekμόνοςalone, forsaken, solitary; only; unique
6Ancient Greekσπέρμαseed; semen, sperm; seed-time, sowing
7Proto-Hellenic*spérmə—

Words derived from “minster”

  • Westminster
  • Axminster
  • Ilminster
  • Westminsterian
  • Axminstered
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *spérmə →