Where does “realm” come from?
Realm comes from Middle English realme, from Old French reaume, from Latin rheuma, ultimately derived from Latin regalis meaning "of a king" through the suffix -alis, tracing back to Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- meaning "to rule."
realm (English): An abstract sphere of influence, real or...
Definitions
- An abstract sphere of influence, real or...
Ancestry of “realm”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | rewme | kingdom, realm, nation; region, area, province;... |
| 2 | Old French | reaume | kingdom |
| 3 | Old French | real | royal; Alternative form of roial |
| 4 | Old French | regiel | — |
| 5 | Latin | regalis | regal, royal; of or pertaining to a king |
| 6 | Latin | rex | king, ruler; despot, tyrant; king |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | rēks | king |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |