English
governor
Governor comes from Old French gouvreneur, from Latin gubernātor ‘helmsman’, from gubernō ‘to steer’, from Greek κυβερνάω ‘to steer’, of disputed origin.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκυβερνάωkubernáō‘to steer, pilot’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernō‘to pilot, steer; to govern’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernator‘helmsman; governor’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400gouvreneur
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500governour
- Englishearliest quotation 1869governor
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκυβερνάωkubernáō‘to steer, pilot’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernō‘to pilot, steer; to govern’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernator‘helmsman; governor’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400gouvreneur
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500governour
- Englishearliest quotation 1869governor
Earliest quotation: 1869, Louisa May Alcott: “Say 'father.' We never called him papa; and if…”
Equivalent to govern + -or
Ancient Greek κυβερνάω ‘to steer, drive, govern’
Latin gubernō ‘to pilot, steer a ship’
Old French governer ‘to guide’
Middle English governen ‘to exercise political authority over’
English govern
The story
From Middle English governour, from Old French gouvreneur, from Latin gubernator, from Ancient Greek κυβερνήτης (kubernḗtēs, “steersman, pilot, guide”), from κυβερνάω (kubernáō, “to steer, to drive, to guide, to act as a pilot”), of disputed origin.disputed Scholars disagree here; the competing view is quoted as the source gives it.
Linked words
through Ancient Greek κύρβεις ‘turnable wooden cylinders’
through Ancient Greek κυβερνάω ‘to steer, to drive, to guide, to act as a pilot’
through Latin gubernator ‘Helmsman or pilot of a boat’
Today it means
noun The chief executive officer of a first-level administrative division of a country.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek κυβερνάω / governor