Where does “princeps” come from?

Princeps comes from Latin princeps, from Latin capio meaning "to take," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- with the same sense, plus Latin -ia.

princeps (English): One who, or that which, is foremost, original,...

Definitions

  1. One who, or that which, is foremost, original,...

Ancestry of “princeps”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinprīncepsfirst, foremost
2Latinprimoceps
3Latincapiōto take, to capture, to catch, to seize, to take captive, to storm
4Proto-Italickapiōtake
5Proto-Italickapjōtake, seize
6Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyéti
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p-