Priorate
/ˈpraɪ.ə.reɪt/noun
A priory; the office, rank, or jurisdiction of a prior or prioress.
Did you know?Priorate comes from the same Latin root as priority and prior, so its deepest meaning is literally tied to being “earlier” or “first” before it became a church title.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to go forward, pass by, or be in front”
Latin
Latin
prior
“former, earlier, the one in front”
Late Latin
Latin
prioratus
“the office or dignity of a prior”
Old French
Old French
prioré
“priory; the house or office of a prior”
Middle English
English
priorate
“the office, rank, or jurisdiction of a prior”
Explore more surprising origins