Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “proxy” come from?

Proxy comes from Old French procuracie, from Medieval Latin procuratia, from Latin procuratio (management of affairs), derived from procuro (to take care of), combining pro (for) and cura (care).

proxy (English): Used as a proxy or acting as a proxy; An agent or...

Definitions

  1. Used as a proxy or acting as a proxy; An agent or...

Ancestry of “proxy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishprocusie—
2Middle Englishprocuracie—
3Anglo-Normanprocuracieprocuracy; the office of a procurator
4Medieval Latinprocuratia—
5Latinprōcūrātiō—
6Latin-tiō—
7Latindissertātiō—
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “proxy”

  • multiproxy
  • proxygene
  • proxyless
  • proxyship
  • pseudoproxy
  • proxy
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →