Where does “schoolmistress” come from?
Schoolmistress comes from English school, from Middle English scole, from Middle Dutch scole, from Latin magister, derived from Latin magis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-, meaning to turn or move.
schoolmistress (English): A woman in charge of a school
Definitions
- A woman in charge of a school
Ancestry of “schoolmistress”, step by step
schoolmistress traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English school
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | school | A group of fish or a group of marine mammals such... |
| 2 | Middle English | scole | school |
| 3 | Old English | scōl | place of education |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *skōlu | — |
| 5 | Latin | schola | Leisure time given to learning; schooltime,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | σχολή | leisure, free time; rest; that in which leisure... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | skʰolā́ | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sǵʰ-h₃-léh₂ | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | seǵʰ- | to hold; to overpower |
via English Mistress
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Mistress | Used as the title of a married woman before her... |
| 2 | Middle English | maistresse | mistress |
| 3 | Old French | maistresse | — |
| 4 | Old French | maistre | master; Master; magister |
| 5 | Latin | magister | teacher; master; a title of the Middle Ages,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | magisteros | bigger, greater |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | méǵh₂isteros | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | méǵh₂s | big, great |