emperor

Where does the word "emperor" come from? It comes from Latin imperator, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Emperor’s story begins in Latin: imperator meant “a commander.” A commander, from imperare (to command). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as empereor. Carried into French as the title for a supreme ruler. It reached English by 1200s as emperor. Settled as the English word for the ruler of an empire. Today, emperor means the sovereign ruler of an empire.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient imperator "a commander", a commander, from imperare (to command).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval empereor "a supreme ruler", carried into French as the title for a supreme ruler.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s emperor "the ruler of an empire", settled as the English word for the ruler of an empire.