Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “prēost” come from?

prēost (Old English) comes from Latin presbyter, from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος, from Ancient Greek πρέσβυς, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

prēost (Old English): priest

Definitions

  1. priest

Ancestry of “prēost”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpresbyteran elder, presbyter
2Ancient Greekπρεσβύτεροςolder of two people; advanced in life, senior; a...
3Ancient Greekπρέσβυςelderly, aged; old man; elder, chief, prince
4Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “prēost”

  • priest
  • Preston
  • priestess
  • Presley
  • priestcraft
  • archpriest
  • priestless
  • priestlike
  • priestling
  • priesting
  • priestship
  • priestesshood
  • priestdom
  • priestism
  • protopriest
  • priestery
  • archpriesthood
  • unpriest
  • priestesslike
  • Presleyesque
  • priestress
  • priest-ridden
  • priest-king
  • priestish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →