Where does “postmistress” come from?
postmistress (English) comes from English post, from Middle French poste, from Italian posta, from Italian posto, from Latin positus, from Latin pōnō, from Proto-Italic poznō, from Proto-Italic pozinō.
postmistress (English): A female postmaster
Definitions
- A female postmaster
Ancestry of “postmistress”, step by step
postmistress traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English post
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | post | A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground;... |
| 2 | Middle French | poste | — |
| 3 | Italian | posta | mail, post; post office; stakes |
| 4 | Italian | posto | place, spot |
| 5 | Latin | positus | placed; ordained |
| 6 | Latin | pōnō | to place; to put; to lay |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | poznō | — |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | pozinō | — |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | sinō | — |
via English Mistress
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Mistress | Used as the title of a married woman before her... |
| 2 | Middle English | maistresse | mistress |
| 3 | Old French | maistresse | — |
| 4 | Old French | maistre | master; Master; magister |
| 5 | Latin | magister | teacher; master; a title of the Middle Ages,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | magisteros | bigger, greater |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | méǵh₂isteros | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | méǵh₂s | big, great |