Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “senior” come from?

Senior comes from Latin senior, comparative form of senex meaning "old," derived from Proto-Indo-European sénos.

senior (English): Older; superior; Higher in rank, dignity, or...

Definitions

  1. Older; superior; Higher in rank, dignity, or...

Ancestry of “senior”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinseniorolder, elder; rather old; a lord, sir; an abbot
2Latinsenexold, aged, elderly; old person, old man, old...
3Proto-Indo-Europeansénosold

Words derived from “senior”

  • seniormost
  • seniorship
  • senioritis
  • supersenior
  • nonsenior
  • seniorhood
  • seniorize
  • seniorness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sénos →