president

Where does the word "president" come from? It comes from Latin prae sedere, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

President’s story begins in Latin: prae sedere meant “to sit before.” To sit before, from prae- (before) and sedere (to sit). Within Latin, it grew into praesidens by ancient. One who presides, present participle of praesidere. It reached English by 1300s as president. Settled as the English word for the head of an organization or state. Today, president means the elected head of a republic, or the leader of an organization.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient prae sedere "to sit before", to sit before, from prae- (before) and sedere (to sit).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient praesidens "one who presides", one who presides, present participle of praesidere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s president "the head of an organization or state", settled as the English word for the head of an organization or state.