cleric

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκληρικός
2. Late Latin · borrowed fromclēricus
3. English todaycleric

Borrowed from Late Latin clēricus, from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikós), from κλῆρος (klêros, “a casting lots, drawing lots”). Many officers at Athens obtained their offices by lot, as opposed to election (Liddell and Scott). Doublet of clerk.

Words from the same roots