Etymology

locum tenens

Today it means: A professional person (such as a doctor or clergyman) who temporarily fulfills the duties of another. Full definition →

Medieval Latin locum tenēns
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The story

  1. Medieval Latin · borrowed fromlocum tenēns
  2. English todaylocum tenens

Existing in English since the seventeenth century: from Medieval Latin locum tenēns (literally “one holding a place”). Doublet of lieutenant.

Words from the same roots

Medieval Latinlocum tenēns all →

stadtholder

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.