pro-missionary
|pro-mis-sion-ar-y|
🇺🇸
/proʊˈmɪʃənɛri/
🇬🇧
/prəʊˈmɪʃənəri/
for/supporting missionaries
Etymology
'pro-missionary' is a compound formed from the prefix 'pro-' (from Latin 'pro') meaning 'for' and 'missionary' (from Late Latin 'missionarius', from 'missio') meaning 'one sent (on a mission).'
'pro-' comes from Latin 'pro' meaning 'for, forward'; 'missionary' comes from Late Latin 'missionarius' (from 'missio', from Latin 'mittere' meaning 'to send'), which passed into Old French and Middle English as 'missionary' before forming the modern English noun/adjective. The compound 'pro-missionary' is a modern English formation combining these elements to mean 'for missions/missionaries.'
Initially the components meant 'for' (pro-) and 'a person sent' (missionary); together as a modern compound the meaning has become 'in favor of missionary activity' or 'supporter of missionaries.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who supports or advocates missionary work or missionaries
Several pro-missionary voices in the town argued for funding the overseas project.
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Adjective 1
supportive of or favorable toward missionary activities or the work of missionaries
The council adopted a pro-missionary stance and pledged resources for outreach.
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Last updated: 2025/11/06 03:43