English
majesty
Majesty comes from Old French majesté, and goes back to Latin maiestas ‘majesty, greatness, grandeur, prestige’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmaiestasas maiestātem‘majesty, greatness, grandeur, prestige’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400majesté
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500majeste
- Englishtodaymajesty
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmaiestasas maiestātem‘majesty, greatness, grandeur, prestige’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400majesté
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500majeste
- Englishtodaymajesty
The story
From Middle English majeste, mageste, from Old French majesté, from Latin maiestātem, (literally, "the quality of being greater”).
Every English word from Latin maiestas
Today it means
noun The quality of being impressive, great, dignified, powerful, sovereign, or any combination thereof.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin maiestas / majesty