Etymologically
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conditor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔn.dɪ.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔn.di.tor][1]

Forms

conditor m (genitive conditōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from condō “to found, build” with the agent suffix -tor; ⟨condō⟩ is from con- and ⟨-dō⟩ “to put”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It was the builder or founder of a city or temple, as in Sallust and Livy; the originator of a practice or institution, and the creator of the world, as in Livy; an author, as in Ovid; and an organiser, as in Cicero.[2][4] Lewis & Short note it is most frequent in the sense founder.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was founder, creator, author.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for a founder, the creator, and conditor lēgum a lawgiver.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[3]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of a founder.[2][3]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of an originator.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A founder, builder.[2]
  2. An originator; the Creator.[2][6]
  3. An author; an organiser.[2]

Usage notes

Condītor, with a long ī, is a different and rare word, “a seasoner”, from condiō, and Cicero puns on the two.[2][5][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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