satellite

The story

1. Latin · derived fromsatelles“attendant”
2. Middle French · derived fromsatellite
3. English todaysatellite

From Middle French satellite, from Latin satelles (“attendant”). Ultimately perhaps of Etruscan origin.

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. An attendant on an important person; a member of someone's retinue, often in a somewhat derogatory sense; a henchman.
• from 17th c. A moon or other smaller body orbiting a larger one.
• from 20th c. A man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body, generally to relay information, data, etc. to Earth.
• from 20th c. Satellite TV; reception of television broadcasts via services that use man-made satellite technology.
• from 19th c. A country, state, office, building etc. which is under the jurisdiction, influence, or domination of another body.