Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “principal” come from?

principal (French) comes from Latin principālis, from Latin prīncipium, from Latin prīnceps, from Latin primoceps, from Latin capiō, from Proto-Italic kapiō, from Proto-Italic kapjō, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyéti — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

principal (French): main; principal; what is most important;...

Definitions

  1. main; principal; what is most important;...

Ancestry of “principal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinprincipālis—
2Latinprīncipium—
3Latinprīnceps—
4Latinprimoceps—
5Latincapiō—
6Proto-Italickapiōtake
7Proto-Italickapjōtake, seize
8Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyéti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

Words derived from “principal”

  • principalement
  • principalité
  • principal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →