English
director
Director comes from Middle French directeur and Late Latin dīrēctor, from Latin dīrēctus ‘directed’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃réǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule, direct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīrigō‘to lay straight, direct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīrēctus‘laid straight, directed’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEdīrēctor‘director’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600directeur
- Englishearliest quotation 1971director
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃réǵetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule, direct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīrigō‘to lay straight, direct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīrēctus‘laid straight, directed’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEdīrēctor‘director’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600directeur
- Englishearliest quotation 1971director
Earliest quotation: 1971, United States. Office of Saline Water, Distillation Digest: “Installed longer flow director; it now just covers the…”
Equivalent to direct + -or
Latin regō ‘to make straight, rule’
Latin dīrigō ‘to straighten, direct’
Latin dīrēctus ‘laid straight’
English direct
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, real, rich, royal, regular, rank, arrangement, roy, radar, correct, arrange, rack, rogue, rex, interrogation, raj, rake, regal, regency, rani, rajah, rhesus, eldritch, riel, derailleur, interregnum, rectory, dirigible, retch, rectilinear, 76 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti ‘to be straightening, to be setting upright’
through Proto-Italic *regō
regional, resource, ruler, regiment, regimen, erectile, erectus, erector, 38 more
through Latin regō ‘to rule, govern, direct’
source, rule, region, regime, realm, regulate, resurrection, regent, dresser, erect, insurrection, undress, dressage, rectify, régime, incorrigible, rectum, irregularity, rectification, regula, regio, corregidor, rectitude, rectus, recto, 46 more
through Latin dīrigō ‘to lay straight’
through Latin dīrēctus ‘laid straight, arranged in lines, having been…’
Today it means
noun One who directs; the person in charge of managing a department or directorate (e.g., director of engineering), project, or production (as in a show or film, e.g., film director).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / director