Surrogate
/ˈsɜːr.ə.ɡət/noun
A person or thing acting in place of another.
Did you know?The word 'surrogate' traces back to ancient Rome, where it was used to describe a deputy or a substitute, hinting at the powerful role of proxies in society.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ser-
“to protect, to save, to keep safe.”
Latin
Latin
surrogare
“to appoint as a substitute, to put in place of another.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
surrogatus
“one chosen to act in place of another.”
14th Century
Middle English
surrogate
“a substitute or deputy, particularly in legal or ecclesiastical contexts.”
Modern English
English
surrogate
“a person authorized to act on behalf of another, especially in reproductive contexts.”
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