Parage
/ˈpærɪdʒ/noun
An archaic term for equality of rank, noble lineage, or a group of peers.
Did you know?In medieval feudal language, parage could describe noble lineage or equal standing among heirs, while its root also gave English the word “peer.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“A root associated with bringing to pass, allotting, or matching; its later Latin descendants developed the sense of equality.”
Classical Latin
Latin
par
“Equal, matching, or a person of equal rank.”
Late Latin
Latin
paraticum
“A form related to rank or standing, developing in medieval Romance usage.”
Old French
Old French
parage
“Noble lineage, ancestry, rank, or equality among peers.”
Middle English
English
parage
“Nobility, lineage, or equality of social standing.”
Modern English
English
parage
“An archaic term for noble lineage or equal rank, now chiefly historical or dialectal.”