clericus (Latin)
Where does "clericus" come from?
The Latin noun 'clericus', meaning a priest or a learned man, was borrowed from the Ancient Greek adjective 'κληρικός' ('klērikós'), meaning of the clergy[1]. This Greek term was formed from 'κλῆρος' ('klêros'), meaning a lot or the clergy, combined with the suffix '-ῐκός' ('-ĭkós')[2]. The root 'κλῆρος' originally referred to a shard used in casting lots[1].
Open questions
- The ultimate origins of the Ancient Greek word klêros are disputed, with traditional derivations from Proto-Indo-European roots competing with alternative Celtic connections and a suggested Pre-Greek origin. [3]
Full etymology tree
- clericus (Latin), 'a priest, clergyman or clergywoman, cleric'
- borrowed κληρικός (klērikós) (Ancient Greek), 'concerning inheritances'
- derived κλῆρος (klêros) (Ancient Greek), 'a lot'
- inherited *kleh₂- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to put'
- suffix -ικός (-ikós) (Ancient Greek), 'Added to noun stems to form adjectives: of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic'
- derived κλῆρος (klêros) (Ancient Greek), 'a lot'
- borrowed κληρικός (klērikós) (Ancient Greek), 'concerning inheritances'
Ancestors
- κληρικός (Ancient Greek)
Sources
- clericus (Latin) - Wiktionary
- κληρικός (klērikós) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
- κλῆρος (klêros) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris