English
docent
Docent comes from Latin docēns ‘teaching, instructing’, from Proto-Italic *dokeō ‘to cause to perceive’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘to teach’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocēns‘teaching, instructing’present participle of doceō
- Englishearliest quotation 2006docent
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘to teach’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocēns‘teaching, instructing’present participle of doceō
- Englishearliest quotation 2006docent
Earliest quotation: 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day: “Zermelo had been a docent at Göttingen when Kit…”
The story
In the meaning of a university grade, as used in some Central European countries, it is clipped version of private docent, privat-docent, from German Privatdozent, from German Dozent.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
tail, dignity, decoration, decent, decor, paradox, disdain, indignation, dogma, fonda, dainty, indignant, décor, dignitary, deign, digne, 53 more
through Proto-Italic *dokeō ‘to cause to perceive’
through Latin doceō ‘to teach’
doctor, document, doctrine, doctrinal, dodo, docile, dox, 16 more
Today it means
adj Instructive; that teaches.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- / docent