Where does “superintendent” come from?
Superintendent derives from Ecclesiastical Latin superintendens, from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος, built from ἐπισκοπέω, σκοπέω meaning to look or observe, and σκοπός meaning watcher or scout, tracing to Proto-Indo-European speḱ-.
superintendent (English): A person who is authorized to supervise, direct...
Definitions
- A person who is authorized to supervise, direct...
Ancestry of “superintendent”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastical Latin | superintendens | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἐπίσκοπος | watcher, guardian; scout, watch; overseer,... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἐπισκοπέω | I watch over |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἐπι- | on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἐπί | as well, besides; For usage in composition, see... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Ἡμέρα | — |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἦμαρ | day; by day; midday |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | ā́mər | day |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃mr̥ | heat |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃- | to be hot; to burn |