entry
surrogate
/ˈsɜːrəɡət/; verb /ˈsɜːrəɡeɪt/A substitute acting in another’s place
From Latin sub (under) + Latin rogo (ask).
from Latin surrogatus , past participle of surrogare / subrogare "put in another's place, substitute." This is
+1 more sourcefrom Latin surrogatus , past participle of surrogare / subrogare "put in another's place, substitute." This is
+1 more sourcefrom Latin surrogatus , past participle of surrogare / subrogare "put in another's place, substitute." This is
+1 more sourceWord Ancestry
from Latin surrogatus , past participle of surrogare / subrogare "put in another's place, substitute." This is
+1 more sourcefrom Latin surrogatus , past participle of surrogare / subrogare "put in another's place, substitute." This is
+1 more sourcefrom Latin surrogatus , past participle of surrogare / subrogare "put in another's place, substitute." This is
+1 more sourceA surrogate began life not as a hopeful parent but as an official stand-in. In Latin, sub meant “in the place of,” while rogāre meant “to ask” or “propose”—as if someone were formally asked to step into another person’s shoes. The resulting surrogātus described a substitute, and by the early 15th century English used surrogate for deputies acting for bishops and judges. Centuries later, the word traveled from courtrooms into medicine: “surrogate mother” appeared in the psychological sense in 1971, and the pregnancy sense became established in the 1970s. So when a surrogate carries out a task—or carries a child—the ancient image is the same: someone summoned to occupy another person’s place.
The Story
A surrogate began life not as a hopeful parent but as an official stand-in. In Latin, sub meant “in the place of,” while rogāre meant “to ask” or “propose”—as if someone were formally asked to step into another person’s shoes. The resulting surrogātus described a substitute, and by the early 15th century English used surrogate for deputies acting for bishops and judges. Centuries later, the word traveled from courtrooms into medicine: “surrogate mother” appeared in the psychological sense in 1971, and the pregnancy sense became established in the 1970s. So when a surrogate carries out a task—or carries a child—the ancient image is the same: someone summoned to occupy another person’s place.
Kin & Kindred
From 'sub'·under; in the place of
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'rogo'·ask, propose, nominate
Derived Terms
English words from this root