Etymologically
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senior

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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]
  • 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