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calculator

Etymology and origin of the Latin word calculator

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Martial
Ultimate origin
Latin (calx)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kaɫ.kʊˈɫaː.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kal.kuˈlaː.tor][1]

Forms

calculātor m (genitive calculātōris, feminine calculātrīx); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from calculō “to reckon” with the agent suffix -tor; ⟨calculō⟩ is from calculus “pebble, counter”, a diminutive of calx “limestone”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD, Lewis & Short and Gaffiot cite Martial.[2][4][5] Köbler dates Martial 40–102/103 AD.[6]

Semantic evolution

It was a person skilled in arithmetic, or a teacher of arithmetic, as in Martial, and Lewis & Short call it post-Augustan.[2][4] In the Digest it was a bookkeeper, one who keeps accounts.[5] Köbler also lists Diocletian's price edict of 301.[6]

Medieval Latin used it for an arithmetician, and British Medieval Latin for a reckoner of the calendar.[7][8] English calculator (late 14th century) first meant a mathematician; the adding machine dates from 1784.[3]

Timeline

  • 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it.[2][6]
  • 301 AD – Diocletian's price edict has it.[6]
  • late 14th century – English calculator is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An arithmetician; a teacher of arithmetic.[2]
  2. A bookkeeper, accountant.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Calculator.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/calculator. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·