Etymology of the English word lieutenant
the English word
lieutenantderived from the Old French word
lieutenantderived from the Old French word
lieuderived from the Latin word
locus (place; part of the body; female genitals; grounds of proof; place, territory, locality; seat, rank, position)
derived from the Old French word
tenantderived from the Old French word
tenir (to hold)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-Date
The earliest known usage of lieutenant in English dates from the 14th century.
Derivations in English
sublieutenantCognates
Danish
lojtnant, Dutch
luitenant, French
lieutenant, German
Leutnant, German
Leutenant, Lithuanian
leitenantas, Portuguese
logotenente, Provençal
loctenent, Russian
лeйтeнaнт, Spanish
lugartinienteUsage
Word found in Modern English