English
primate
Primate comes from French primate ‘primate (mammal)’, from Latin prīmās ‘one of the first, chief, excellent, noble’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- ‘before, in front’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*preh₂-‘before, in front’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*prireconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*prīzmos‘foremost, first’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīmus
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīmāsas prīmās, substantivization‘one of the first, chief, excellent, noble’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentprimate‘primate (mammal)’
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*preh₂-‘before, in front’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*prireconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*prīzmos‘foremost, first’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīmus
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīmāsas prīmās, substantivization‘one of the first, chief, excellent, noble’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentprimate‘primate (mammal)’
- Englishtodaysame form
first attested First attested in 1876 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in 1876. So named due to the belief that primates are the highest order of mammals or animals.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- ‘before, in front’
for, first, prestigious, forbid, prairie, preface, prefix, precede, parasol, preeminent, parley, portobello, prescient, impregnate, 18 more
through Proto-Italic *pri
through Proto-Italic *prīzmos ‘foremost, first’
through Latin prīmus
Another origin of primate
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400primat
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500primat(e)
- Englishtodayprimate
First attested in c. 1275.
Today it means
noun A mammal of the order Primates, comprising of apes (including humans), monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, lorisids, and galagos.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- / primate