khedive

Where does the word "khedive" come from? It comes from Old Persian khvadata-, passing through Persian, Turkish and French before entering English (1867).

Khedive’s story begins in Old Persian: khvadata- meant “lord, master.” Compound meaning "lord, created from oneself". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Persian as khidiw. Meant "prince". From there it passed into Turkish as khidiv by 1800s. Granted by the Ottoman sultan to Isma'il Pasha of Egypt in 1867. French picked it up next, as khedive, around 1867. Used for the Ottoman-appointed ruler of Egypt. It reached English by 1867 as khedive. Entered English describing Egypt's Ottoman-appointed governors. Today, khedive means the title of the viceroy of Egypt under nominal Ottoman rule from 1867 to 1914.

1. Stage 1 · Old Persian · ancient khvadata- "lord, master", compound meaning "lord, created from oneself".
2. Stage 2 · Persian · medieval khidiw "prince", meant "prince".
3. Stage 3 · Turkish · 1800s khidiv "viceroy", granted by the Ottoman sultan to Isma'il Pasha of Egypt in 1867.
4. Stage 4 · French · 1867 khedive "viceroy of Egypt", used for the Ottoman-appointed ruler of Egypt.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1867 khedive "Turkish viceroy of Egypt", entered English describing Egypt's Ottoman-appointed governors.