English
abbot
Abbot comes from Latin abbās ‘father’, from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς ‘declinable form of ἀββα (abba), ἀββᾶ (abbâ)’, and ultimately from Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab- ‘father’.
- Proto-Afroasiaticprehistoric (reconstructed)*ʔab-‘father’reconstructed
- Proto-Semiticc. 4000–3000 BCE*ʔabw-‘father’reconstructed
- Aramaicc. 1000 BCE–700 CEאבא’abbā‘father’
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀββᾶςabbâs‘declinable form of ἀββα (abba), ἀββᾶ (abbâ)’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEabbās‘father’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150abbat
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500abbot
- Englishtodayabbot
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Afroasiaticprehistoric (reconstructed)*ʔab-‘father’reconstructed
- Proto-Semiticc. 4000–3000 BCE*ʔabw-‘father’reconstructed
- Aramaicc. 1000 BCE–700 CEאבא’abbā‘father’
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀββᾶςabbâs‘declinable form of ἀββα (abba), ἀββᾶ (abbâ)’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEabbās‘father’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150abbat
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500abbot
- Englishtodayabbot
Linked words
through Proto-Semitic *ʔabw- ‘father’
through Aramaic אבא ‘father’
through Latin abbās ‘father’
Today it means
noun The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab- / abbot