prozymite

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπροζύμιον“leaven”
2. Medieval Greek · derived fromπροζυμίτης
3. Medieval Latin · derived fromprozymīta
4. German · borrowed fromProzymit
5. English todayprozymite

Borrowed from German Prozymit, from Medieval Latin prozymīta, from Medieval Greek προζυμίτης (prozumítēs), from Ancient Greek προζύμιον (prozúmion, “leaven”) + -ῑ́της (-ī́tēs, suffix forming masculine nouns meaning being connected to or a member of something, or coming from a particular place). προζύμιον is derived from προ- (pro-, suffix meaning ‘before, in front’) + ζύμη (zúmē, “leaven, yeast”) + -ιον (-ion, suffix forming nouns). The English word is analysable as, by surface analysis, pro- + zym- + -ite.

First known use, by meaning

• from mid 19th c. One who administers the Eucharist with leavened bread, in particular a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church.