Where does “prester” come from?
prester (English) comes from Middle English prestre, from Old French prestre, from Latin presbyter, from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος, from Ancient Greek πρέσβυς, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
prester (English): A priest or presbyter; A meteor or exhalation...
Definitions
- A priest or presbyter; A meteor or exhalation...
Ancestry of “prester”, step by step
prester traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English prestre
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | prestre | — |
| 2 | Old French | prestre | priest |
| 3 | Latin | presbyter | an elder, presbyter |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πρεσβύτερος | older of two people; advanced in life, senior; a... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πρέσβυς | elderly, aged; old man; elder, chief, prince |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |