metropole

The story

1. Latin · derived frommētropolis
2. Middle French · derived frommetropole“town with bishop's seat”
3. Middle English · inherited frommetropol
4. English todaymetropole

From Middle English metropol, from Middle French metropole (“town with bishop's seat”), from Latin mētropolis. Doublet of metropolis.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. A metropolis; the main city of a country or area.
• from 19th c. The parent-state of a colony.
• from 19th c. A bishop's see.