pedagogue

Where does the word "pedagogue" come from? It comes from Greek paidagōgos, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Pedagogue’s story begins in Greek: paidagōgos meant “child-leader.” The slave who walked a boy to school and supervised him, from 'pais', boy, and 'agein', to lead. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as paedagogus. A tutor, often a Greek slave in Roman households. From there it passed into Old French as pedagogue by medieval. A schoolmaster. It reached English by 1300s as pedagogue. Came to suggest a pedantic, strict teacher. Today, pedagogue means a teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient paidagōgos "child-leader", the slave who walked a boy to school and supervised him, from 'pais', boy, and 'agein', to lead.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient paedagogus "tutor", a tutor, often a Greek slave in Roman households.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval pedagogue "schoolmaster", a schoolmaster.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s pedagogue "teacher", came to suggest a pedantic, strict teacher.