Prominent
late Middle English (in the sense ‘projecting’): from Latin prominent- ‘jutting out’, from the verb prominere . Compare with eminent.
wiktionary
From obsolete French prominent (compare proéminent), from Latin prōminēns, present active participle of prōmineō(“jut out, to project”), from prō(“before, forward”) + mineō (in compounds, “ jut, project”).
etymonline
prominent (adj.)
mid-15c., "projecting, jutting out, standing out beyond the line or surface of something," from Latin prominentem (nominative prominens) "prominent," present participle of prominere "jut or stand out, be prominent, overhang," from pro "before, forward" (see pro-) + -minere "project, jut out," which is related to mons "hill" (from PIE root *men- (2) "to project").
Of features, "conspicuous, standing out so as to strike the mind or eye," from 1759; of persons, "notable, leading, eminent, standing out from among the multitude," from 1849. Related: Prominently.
