Where does “sexton” come from?
Sexton comes from Old French segrestien, from Medieval Latin sacristanus, meaning a person in charge of a church's sacred vessels and property.
sexton (English): A church official who looks after a church...
Definitions
- A church official who looks after a church...
Ancestry of “sexton”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | segrestien | — |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | sacristanus | — |
| 3 | Late Latin | sacrista | sexton; sacristan, vestryman |
| 4 | Latin | sacer | sacred, holy, dedicated (to a divinity), consecrated, hallowed |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sh₂krós | sacred |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | seh₂k- | sacred |