Where does “patronus” come from?
patronus (Latin) comes from Latin pater, from Proto-Italic patēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.
Ancestry of “patronus”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | pater | father; head of household; parent |
| 2 | Proto-Italic | patēr | father |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂tḗr | father |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂- | to protect; to shepherd |