actor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈaːk.tɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈak.tor]^[1]

Forms

āctor m (genitive āctōris, feminine āctrīx); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is an agent noun, from Latin āctus + -tor, the participle of agō “to drive, do”.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it of a doer: in the Bacchides a slave says it is not the deed but the doer that wounds his heart.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Its literal sense was one who drives, a herdsman or drover, as in Ovid's pecoris āctor.^[2][4] In general use it was a doer or agent, and Cicero calls Cato the leader, adviser and doer of the events.^[4][2] In law it was the pleader of a case, especially the prosecutor or plaintiff.^[2] On the stage it was a player, already in Terence and Cicero.^[2] Columella and Pliny the Younger use it of a steward or bailiff of an estate, and Tacitus of imperial agents.^[2] Döderlein notes that āctor is the respectable term for a player, while lūdiō is the professional comedian.^[5]

In medieval Latin it was an attorney, trustee or agent, notably the steward of a church's property.^[6] British writers used it of an agent and of the author of a book, by confusion with auctor.^[7] English actor is recorded in the late 14th century as an overseer or steward.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a doer.^[2][3]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a player.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of doers and of players.^[4][2][3]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of a farm steward.^[2][3]
• late 14th century – English actor is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A herdsman, drover.^[2][4]
2. A doer, performer, agent.^[2][1]
3. (law) A pleader, advocate; the prosecutor or plaintiff.^[2][1]
4. A player, actor.^[2][1]
5. A steward, bailiff; an imperial agent.^[2]
6. (Medieval Latin) An attorney, trustee; the agent of a church.^[6]

Related words

• āctiō
• āctrīx
• āctus
• agitō
• English actor

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com