Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “receptionist” come from?

Receptionist derives from English reception, from Latin receptiō (a receiving), formed from Latin re- (back) and Latin recipere (to take).

receptionist (English): An employee who works in reception for a person...

Definitions

  1. An employee who works in reception for a person...

Ancestry of “receptionist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishreceptionThe act of receiving; The act or ability to...
2Middle Frenchreception—
3Latinreceptiō—
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →