Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “prêter” come from?

prêter (French) comes from Middle French preter, from Old French prester, from Latin praesto, from Latin prae-, from Proto-Italic prai-, from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

prêter (French): to lend; to lend itself to; to go along with

Definitions

  1. to lend; to lend itself to; to go along with

Ancestry of “prêter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle FrenchpreterAlternative form of prester
2Old Frenchpresterto borrow
3Latinpraestopresent, at hand, ready; at hand, ready to help;...
4Latinprae-before; in front; in charge
5Proto-Italicprai-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “prêter”

  • prêteur
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →