Where does “-mor” come from?
-mor (Middle English) comes from Portuguese maior, from Old Portuguese mayor, from Latin maior, from Latin maior domus, from Latin domus, from Proto-Italic domos, from Proto-Indo-European dṓm, from Proto-Indo-European dem- — to build; to arrange, to put together.
Ancestry of “-mor”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | maior | comparative degree of grande; bigger, larger;... |
| 2 | Old Portuguese | mayor | — |
| 3 | Latin | maior | greater, larger; older; ancestors |
| 4 | Latin | maior domus | supervisor of a house; steward |
| 5 | Latin | domus | house, home; any building or abode; native place,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | domos | house, home |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dṓm | home; house |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dem- | to build; to arrange, to put together |