capitol

capitol · noun¹

1. French · derived fromcapitoul
2. Latin · derived fromCapitōlium“Capitoline Hill, its temples; any similar citadel”
3. Old French · derived fromcapitoile
4. Anglo-Norman · derived fromcapitolie
5. Middle English · inherited fromCapitolie
6. English todaycapitol

From Middle English Capitolie, via Anglo-Norman capitolie, Old French capitoile, from Latin Capitōlium (“Capitoline Hill, its temples; any similar citadel”), from the oblique stem of caput (“head”) + -ō (noun-forming suffix) or -ōlus (“-ole”, diminutive suffix) + -ium (toponym-forming suffix). Compare Latin capitō and capitulum. As a French magistrate, via French capitoul, from Capitole, the town hall of Toulouse. Doublet of Capitolium and capitoul.

Capitol · proper noun²

1. French · derived fromCapitole
2. Latin · derived fromCapitōlium
3. Middle English · inherited fromCapitolie
4. English todayCapitol

From Middle English Capitolie, in historical sense, from Latin Capitōlium. Other meanings from specific instances of capitol, q.v. As a French town hall, a calque of French Capitole.

Words from the same roots