English
tribune
Tribune comes from Latin tribunus ‘tribune, tribal leader’, from tribus ‘tribe’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes ‘three’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tréyes‘three’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*trejesreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*trēs‘three’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrēs‘three’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtribus‘tribe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtribunus‘tribune, tribal leader’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400tribun
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500tribune‘A Roman military tribune or similar leader of a thousand soldiers’
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tréyes‘three’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*trejesreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*trēs‘three’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrēs‘three’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtribus‘tribe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtribunus‘tribune, tribal leader’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400tribun
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500tribune‘A Roman military tribune or similar leader of a thousand soldiers’
- Englishtodaysame form
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *tréyes ‘three’
three, tri, tern, troika, 13 more
through Latin trēs ‘three’
trinity, trio, trey, tres, triplex, 11 more
through Latin tribus ‘tribe’
distribution, contribution, contribute, tribe, tribal, distribute, contributor, retribution, attribution, 5 more
Today it means
noun An elected official in Ancient Rome, a tribune of the plebs.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *tréyes / tribune