Word Timeline
| Classical Latin | Late Latin | Old French | Old French | Middle English | Modern English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st century BCE | 4th–5th centuries | 12th century | 13th century | late 14th century | present |
| *parlare* | *parlamentum* | parlement | parlementaire | parlamenter / parliamentarian | parliamentarian |
| to speak | a speaking together, council | assembly for discussion | one who belongs to an assembly | member or supporter of a parliament | member of a parliament or expert on parliamentary procedure |
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The Full Story
The English word parliamentarian first appears in records from the late 1300s, a period when England’s political landscape was undergoing radical transformation. The Hundred Years’ War and internal disputes over royal authority spurred the growth of the English Parliament as a consultative assembly. Chroniclers such as Thomas Walsingham used the term “parlamenter” to denote those who attended these gatherings, emphasizing their role as speakers rather than mere subjects.
The word traveled to England via Old French *parlementaire*, itself a derivative of *parlement* – a gathering for discussion. French scholars traced *parlement* back to the Latin *parlamentum*, a noun built on the verb *parlare* (to speak). In medieval Latin, *parlamentum* meant “a speaking together,” reflecting the central function of the assembly: deliberation and debate. By the time it reached Middle English, the suffix –ian was added, creating a noun that identified a person associated with the parliament.
One of the earliest English citations appears in the 1382 Parliament Rolls, where a clerk notes, “The parlementaryes of the realm were summoned unto the king.” Over the next centuries, the term broadened to include not only members of parliament but also experts and advisors who guided parliamentary procedure, a meaning that persists in modern usage.
Semantic Shift
Originally, *parliamentarian* simply meant “a participant in a speaking assembly,” a neutral descriptor of anyone who sat in the council. As the English Parliament solidified its legislative power, the word began to connote a professional or partisan role: a staunch supporter of parliamentary supremacy over monarchical rule. By the 17th century, during the English Civil War, *parliamentarian* acquired a stark political coloration, distinguishing those who fought for Parliament from the Royalists.
In contemporary English, the term has two primary senses. The first is the formal one: a member of a parliamentary body or an expert on parliamentary procedure. The second, more colloquial sense, refers to anyone who strongly advocates for parliamentary democracy, often contrasted with “monarchist” or “authoritarian.” The shift from a neutral “speaker” to a politically charged identity illustrates how institutional evolution reshapes language over time.
Word Family
Other words connected through the same etymological root.
| Word | Root Connection | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| parliament | Root connection shares Latin *parlamentum* ‘speaking together’ | Meaning legislative assembly |
| parliamentary | Root connection adjectival form of *parliament* | Meaning relating to a parliament |
| parlance | Root connection from Latin *parlare* ‘to speak’ | Meaning a particular way of speaking |
| parley | Root connection derived from Old French *parler* ‘to speak’ | Meaning a conference between opposing sides |
| repartee | Root connection from French *repartir* ‘to speak back’ | Meaning quick, witty conversation |
| interlocutor | Root connection from Latin *interloqui* ‘to speak between’ | Meaning a person who takes part in a conversation |
| parlour | Root connection from Old French *parloir* ‘a place for speaking’, from *parler* | Meaning a room for receiving guests |
Did You Know?
The root *parlare* that gave us ‘parliamentarian’ is also the ancestor of the English word ‘parlor’, which originally meant a room where people could speak privately.
During the English Civil War, ‘Parliamentarians’ were also called ‘Roundheads’ because of their short-cropped hair, a visual cue that set them apart from the long-haired Royalists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'parliamentarian' literally mean?
Literally, ‘parliamentarian’ means ‘a person belonging to a parlement’, i.e., someone who takes part in a speaking‑together assembly. It combines the Latin root *parlare* ‘to speak’ with the suffix –ian, denoting affiliation.
What language did 'parliamentarian' come from?
The word entered English via Old French *parlementaire*, which itself was formed from Late Latin *parlamentum*—a noun derived from the verb *parlare* ‘to speak’. Thus its ultimate origin is Latin.
When was 'parliamentarian' first used in English?
The earliest English attestations date to the late 14th century, around 1382, in the Parliament Rolls where the term appears as ‘parlamenter’, referring to members summoned to the king’s council.
Is 'parliamentarian' related to the word 'parlor'?
Yes, both share the Latin root *parlare* ‘to speak’. ‘Parlor’ comes from Old French *parloir*, a room for speaking, while ‘parliamentarian’ evolved from the noun *parlamentum* ‘speaking together’. The link is purely etymological, not functional.
How has the meaning of 'parliamentarian' changed over time?
Originally a neutral label for anyone attending a speaking assembly, the term grew political weight during the 17th‑century English Civil War, distinguishing supporters of parliamentary rule from Royalists. Today it denotes either a member of a parliament or an expert on parliamentary procedure.
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