prelate

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

Prelate’s story begins in Latin: praeferre meant “to carry before, to prefer.” To carry before, to prefer, from prae- (before) and ferre (to carry), with irregular past participle praelatus. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as prelat. Carried into French for a high-ranking church official, one preferred above others. It reached English by 1200s as prelate. Settled as the English word for a high-ranking clergyman. Today, prelate means a high-ranking member of the clergy, such as a bishop.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient praeferre "to carry before, to prefer", to carry before, to prefer, from prae- (before) and ferre (to carry), with irregular past participle praelatus.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval prelat "a high-ranking church official", carried into French for a high-ranking church official, one preferred above others.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s prelate "a high-ranking clergyman, such as a bishop", settled as the English word for a high-ranking clergyman.