Etymologically
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contestor

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 17:53. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtɛs.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtɛs.tor][1]

Forms

contestor (present infinitive contestārī, perfect active contestātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and testor “to call to witness”, from testis “witness”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, and Cicero has deōs hominēsque contestārī “to call gods and men to witness”.[2][4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to call to witness, and with ut to appeal to the gods.[2] In law lītem contestārī was to join issue, the formal opening of a lawsuit, when both parties called witnesses.[2][6]

It survives in Italian contestare and Spanish contestar.[1] Through French contester it gave English contest about 1600, first “to fight for, strive to win”.[6]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[2][5]
  • c. 1600 – English contest is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To call to witness.[2]
  2. (law) lītem contestārī, to join issue.[2]

Word family

  • contestātiō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com