Etymograph

English

regent

Regent comes from Latin regēns ‘ruling’, from regō ‘to govern, to steer’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃réǵeti‘to straighten’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to govern, to steer’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEregēns‘ruling’present participle of regō
  6. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400regent
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1667same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃réǵeti‘to straighten’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to govern, to steer’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEregēns‘ruling’present participle of regō
  6. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400regent
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1667same form

Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, (please specify the page number): “the regent powers”.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’

right, real, rich, royal, correct, regular, rank, roy, radar, rack, rogue, arrange, raj, rex, interrogation, rake, dresser, rector, rani, regal, undress, rajah, rhesus, dressage, eldritch, riel, dirigible, derailleur, rectilinear, retch, interregnum, 75 more

through Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti ‘to straighten’

ana, anorexia, 40 more

through Proto-Italic *regō

regional, resource, ruler, directory, regiment, erectile, regimen, erectus, erector, 35 more

through Latin regō ‘to govern, to steer’

source, director, rule, direction, address, direct, region, dress, regime, realm, resurrection, regulate, erect, insurrection, rectify, rectum, incorrigible, droit, régime, rectification, irregularity, dirge, rectitude, recto, rectus, derecho, regula, corregidor, regio, 47 more

Today it means

noun One who rules in place of the monarch, especially because the monarch is too young, absent, or disabled.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / regent

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