Etymograph

English

junior

Junior comes from Latin junior, from iuvenis ‘young’, ultimately from PIE *h₂ey- ‘vital force’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ey-‘vital force’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂óyu‘long time’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂yéwHō‘young’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*juwō‘young’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEiuvenis‘young’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEiuvenior‘younger’comparative of iuvenis
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEjuniorcontraction of iuvenior
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1642junior

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ey-‘vital force’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂óyu‘long time’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂yéwHō‘young’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*juwō‘young’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEiuvenis‘young’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEiuvenior‘younger’comparative of iuvenis
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEjuniorcontraction of iuvenior
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1642junior

Earliest quotation: 1642, Thomas Browne, (please specify the page): “Though our first Studies and junior Endeavours may stile…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- ‘vital force, life, age, eternity’

early, young, era, diet, ere, enigma, 24 more

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu ‘long time, lifetime’

yet, age, longevity, 7 more

through Latin iuvenis ‘young’

juvenile, juvenal

Today it means

adj Low in rank; having a subordinate role, job, or situation.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- / junior

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