citizen

The story

1. Latin · derived fromcivitatem, citatem
2. Old French · derived fromcite“city”
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromcitesain“city-dweller, town-dweller”
4. Middle English · inherited fromciteseyn“inhabitant of a city or town”
5. English todaycitizen

From Middle English citeseyn (“inhabitant of a city or town”), citezein, citisein, from Anglo-Norman citesain (“city-dweller, town-dweller”), citesein, citezein, alteration of citeien from cite (“city”) + -ien (“-ain”) (probable variant of cithein perhaps influenced by dainzain (“denizen”), deinzein), from Old French cite (“city”) + -ien (whence French citoyen), from earlier citet, from Latin civitatem, citatem, from civis. See also city. Displaced native Old English burhsittend and Old English ceasterware.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally recognized rights or duties.
• from 14th c. A legally recognized member of a state, with associated rights and obligations; a person considered in terms of this role.
• from 14th c. An inhabitant or occupant: a member of any place.
• from 15th c. A resident of the heavenly city or (later) of the kingdom of God: a Christian; a good Christian.
• from 16th c. A civilian, as opposed to a police officer, soldier, or member of some other specialized (usually state) group.
• 17th–19th c. An ordinary person, as opposed to nobles and landed gentry on one side and peasants, craftsmen, and laborers on the other.
• from 18th c. A term of address among supporters of the French Revolution in France or elsewhere; (later, dated) a term of address among socialists and communists.