calumniator

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ka.ɫʊm.niˈaː.tɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ka.lum.niˈaː.tor]^[1]

Forms

calumniātor m (genitive calumniātōris, feminine calumniātrīx); third declension^[1] Also spelled kalumniātor.^[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin calumnior (“to accuse falsely”) + -tor, from calumnia (“trickery, false accusation”).^[3][1][4] ⟨calumnia⟩ is from ⟨*kalwomnia⟩, from calvor (“to deceive”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *kalwe/o-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂l-u- or, with the LIV, ⟨*ḱlh₁-u-⟩ “to call”.^[5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cicero.^[6][3] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

Mostly a legal term, it meant a false or vexatious accuser, a pettifogger, one who misuses the law, as in Cicero and the Rhetorica ad Herennium; and a petty or carping critic, as in Pliny and Martial.^[3][2][7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a calumniator, oppressor.^[8] Medieval Latin used it for a false accuser, a violator or unlawful opponent, and a plaintiff; in British Medieval Latin it was also Satan.^[9][10] English calumniator (1560s) is from it.^[4]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[3][6]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of a critic.^[3][6]
• 1560s – English calumniator is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (law) A false or vexatious accuser, pettifogger.^[3][2]
2. A petty, carping critic.^[3]
3. (Medieval Latin) A plaintiff; Satan.^[9][10]

Related words

• calumnia
• calumnior
• calvor
• English calumniator

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
10. ^ a b 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