Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “preste” come from?

preste (French) comes from Italian presto, from Italian prestare, 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.

preste (French): agile, quick

Definitions

  1. agile, quick

Ancestry of “preste”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianprestoready; fast, quick, nimble; soon
2Italianprestareto lend; to pay, to give
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 “preste”

  • prestidigitation
  • prestidigitator
  • prestidigitateur
  • prestidigitation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →