Etymology of the French word clergé
the French word
clergéderived from the Latin word
clericatus (clerical office; clerical, priestly state)
derived from the Latin word
clericus (clergyman, priest, cleric)
derived from the Greek word
klerikos, κληρικός
derived from the Greek word
kleros, κλῆρος (a die (for drawing chances); by implication, a portion (as if so secured); by extension, an acquisition (especially a patrimony, figuratively))
Date
The earliest known usage of clergé in French dates from the 12th century.
Cognates
Dutch
clerus, English
clergy, German
Klerus, Norwegian
kleresi, Swedish
klerus
