Rector
/ˈrɛk.tər/noun
A person who is in charge of a parish, school, or university office.
Did you know?Rector comes from Latin *rector*, meaning “ruler” or “director,” from *regere* (“to rule, guide, keep straight”), the same ancient power-root behind words like regal and regime.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reg-
“to move in a straight line; to direct, rule”
Latin
Latin
regere
“to guide, steer, keep straight, rule”
Latin
Latin
rector
“a director, ruler, guide”
Old French
OF
recteur
“a ruler; later, a church official”
Middle English
English
rectour
“a parish priest or academic head”
Modern English
English
rector
“a parish priest, or the head of certain educational institutions”