prince

The story

1. Latin · derived fromprī̆nceps“first, foremost (person)”
2. Anglo-Norman · derived fromprince
3. Middle English · inherited fromprince
4. English todayprince

From Middle English prince, from Anglo-Norman prince, from Latin prī̆nceps (“first, foremost (person)”), from prīmus (“first”) + capiō (“seize, take”). Cognate with Old English fruma (“prince, ruler”). Doublet of princeps and principe. Displaced English atheling (“prince”), from Middle English, from Old English æþeling (“prince”). Displaced also Middle English kinebarn (from cynebearn, literally “kinbairn”, i.e. “royal child”), alder < ealdor (“elder, leader, chief, prince, king”), and drighten < dryhten (“lord”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 13th c. A (male) ruler, a sovereign; a king, monarch.
• from 13th c. Someone who is preeminent in their field; a great person.
• from 14th c. The (male) ruler or head of a principality.
• from 14th c. A male member of a royal family other than the ruler; especially (in the United Kingdom) the son or grandson of the monarch.