Etymology
1. c.1303, "Church father," from O.Fr.
doctour, from M.L.
doctor "religious teacher, adviser, scholar," from L.
doctor "teacher," from
doct- stem of
docere "to show, teach," originally "make to appear right," causative of
decere "be seemly, fitting" (see decent). Familiar form
doc first recorded c.1850. Meaning of "holder of highest degree in university" is first found c.1375; that of "medical professional" dates from 1377, though this was not common till late 16c. Verb sense of "alter, disguise, falsify" is first recorded 1774.
2. Etymology tree
3. Proto-Indo-European *deḱ-
4. Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
5. Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
6. Proto-Indo-European *doḱ-éye-ti
7. Proto-Italic *dokejō
8. Proto-Italic *dokeō
9. Ancient Greek διδάσκω (didáskō)sl.
10. Latin doceō
11. Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
12. Proto-Italic *-tōr
13. Latin -tor
14. Latin doctorbor.
15. Old French doctur
16. Anglo-Norman doctourder.
17. Middle English doctour
18. English doctor
19. From Middle English doctor, doctour (“an expert, authority on a subject”), from Anglo-Norman doctour, from Latin doctor (“teacher”), from doceō (“to teach”). Displaced native Middle English lerare (“doctor, teacher”) (from Middle English leren (“to teach, instruct”) from Old English lǣran, lēran (“to teach, instruct, guide”), compare Old English lārēow (“teacher, master”)). Displaced Old English lǣċe (“doctor, physician”). See: Latin '
doctor', Old English '
læran'.
Verbs referencing "doctor"
Maori tākuta.