Where does “subpostmaster” come from?
subpostmaster (English) comes from English postmaster, from English post, from Middle French poste, from Italian posta, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo- — passed , crossed.
subpostmaster (English): A subordinate postmaster
Ancestry of “subpostmaster”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | postmaster | The head of a post office; The administrator of... |
| 2 | English | post | A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground;... |
| 3 | Middle French | poste | — |
| 4 | Italian | posta | mail, post; post office; stakes |
| 5 | Latin | probāre | — |
| 6 | Latin | probō | — |
| 7 | Latin | Probus | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro-bhwo- | being in front, prominent |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |