Where does “prioress” come from?

Prioress comes from English prior, from Latin prior meaning "former" or "first," from Proto-Italic priōs, from Proto-Indo-European per- and -yōs.

prioress (English): A nun in charge of a priory (usually lower in rank than an abbess); mother superior

Definitions

  1. A nun in charge of a priory (usually lower in rank than an abbess); mother superior

Ancestry of “prioress”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishprieresse—
2Medieval Latinpriorissa—
Every word from Medieval Latin priorissa →Every word from Middle English prieresse →