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

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

Ancestry of “princeps”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Latin	prīnceps	—
2	Latin	primoceps	—
3	Latin	capiō	—
4	Proto-Italic	kapiō	take
5	Proto-Italic	kapjō	take, seize
6	Proto-Indo-European	kh₂pyéti	—
7	Proto-Indo-European	keh₂p-	to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →

princeps — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer