clergy

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκληρικός“of the clergy”
2. Latin · derived fromclēricus“one ordained for religious services”
3. Late Latin · derived fromclēricātus
4. Old French · derived fromclergie“learned men”
5. Middle English · inherited fromclergie
6. English todayclergy

From Middle English clergie (attested in the 13th century), from Old French clergie (“learned men”), from Late Latin clēricātus, from Latin clēricus (“one ordained for religious services”), from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikós, “of the clergy”). Equivalent to cleric + -ate.

Words from the same roots