senior

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛ.ni.ɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛː.ni.or]^[1]

Forms

senior m (genitive seniōris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the comparative of senex “old”,^[2][1] whose base is Proto-Italic *seno- (“old”), from Proto-Indo-European *sen-(o-) (“old”).^[3]

Compare Old Irish sen (“old”) and Sanskrit सन (sána, “old”).^[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero (81–43 BC),^[4] who says that hardly anyone was older than Cato in his time.^[2]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant older or elder, and comparatively old, as Virgil's “older Acestes”.^[2] As a noun it meant an older man, and in the Roman census and army the seniores were the men above military age, over forty-five.^[2]

In Christian Latin it was used of elders and presbyters, and in Medieval Latin it became a title of rank: a lord, a feudal lord, a husband, an abbot or prior.^[4][1] From this came Italian signore, French seigneur and Spanish señor, and through Vulgar Latin *seior English sire and sir.^[1][5] English senior was borrowed in the late 13th century, first as “the elder”.^[5]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of age.^[2][4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil calls Acestes the older man.^[2][4]
• 666 – A charter uses senior for an abbess.^[4]
• late 13th century – English senior is recorded.^[5]
• c. 1300 – English sir is recorded as a title.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Older, elder.^[2][1]
2. Rather old, elderly.^[2][1]

Noun

1. An older man, (plural) the men above military age.^[2][1]
2. (Christian Latin) An elder, presbyter.^[4]
3. (Medieval Latin) A lord, feudal lord; a husband.^[4][1]
4. (Medieval Latin) An abbot, prior.^[1][4]

Related words

• senātus
• senex
• English senior
• English sir
• English sire

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com