Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “secrétaire” come from?

secrétaire (French) comes from Medieval Latin secretarius, from Latin sēcrētus, from Ancient Greek ἀγωγός, from Ancient Greek ἄγω, from Proto-Hellenic ágō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂éǵeti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- — to drive.

secrétaire (French): secretary; writing desk, secretaire

Definitions

  1. secretary; writing desk, secretaire

Ancestry of “secrétaire”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latinsecretariusone entrusted with secrets; secretary; a privy...
2Latinsēcrētus—
3Ancient Greekἀγωγόςleading, guiding; guide, escort; leading to
4Ancient GreekἄγωTo lead, fetch, bring along , take with; To carry...
5Proto-Hellenicágōto lead, to guide
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “secrétaire”

  • secretaire
  • секретер
  • secrétairerie
  • secretaire
  • sekreter
  • secretar
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →