English
bishopric
Bishopric comes from Middle English bischopriche ‘bishopric, diocese’, from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος ‘overseer’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *skep-ye-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*skep-ye-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσκέπτομαιsképtomai‘to observe’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσκοπός‘watcher, lookout, guardian’root of σκέπτομαι
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐπίσκοπος‘overseer’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEepiscopus‘overseer, supervisor, bishop’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150bisċop‘bishop’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150bisċoprīċe‘a bishopric’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bischopriche‘bishopric, diocese’
- Englishearliest quotation 1605bishopric
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*skep-ye-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσκέπτομαιsképtomai‘to observe’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσκοπός‘watcher, lookout, guardian’root of σκέπτομαι
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐπίσκοπος‘overseer’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEepiscopus‘overseer, supervisor, bishop’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150bisċop‘bishop’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150bisċoprīċe‘a bishopric’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bischopriche‘bishopric, diocese’
- Englishearliest quotation 1605bishopric
Earliest quotation: 1605, M. N. pseudonym; William Camden, Concerning Britaine: “Iohn Fiſher Biſhop of Rocheſter, when the King [Henry…”
Formed from bishop + -ric
Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος ‘overseer’
…
Vulgar Latin biscopus
Proto-West Germanic *biskop
Old English bisċop ‘bishop’
Middle English bischop
English bishop
Linked words
through Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι ‘to observe’
skeptical, microscope, kaleidoscope, gyroscope, 91 more
through Ancient Greek σκοπός ‘watcher, lookout, guardian’
scope, spectroscopic, macroscopic, endoscopic, 93 more
through Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος ‘overseer’
through Latin episcopus ‘overseer, supervisor, bishop’
Today it means
noun A diocese: a region in which a bishop of a church governs.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *skep-ye- / bishopric