authentic

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromαὐθέντης“perpetrator, murderer, absolute ruler”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromαὐθεντικός“authentic, genuine”
3. Latin · derived fromauthenticus
4. Old French · derived fromautentique
5. Middle English · inherited fromauthentik
6. English todayauthentic

From Middle English authentik, from Old French autentique, from Latin authenticus, from Ancient Greek αὐθεντικός (authentikós, “authentic, genuine”), from Ancient Greek αὐθέντης (authéntēs, “perpetrator, murderer, absolute ruler”). Doublet of effendi.

Words from the same roots