convictor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈwiːk.tɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koɱˈvik.tor]^[1]

Forms

convīctor m (genitive convīctōris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from convīvō “to live together” with -tor, and Wiktionary analyses it as con- with vīctus “living” and -tor, modelled on ⟨convīvor⟩, and unrelated to victor.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨vīvō⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *gʷíh₃-we/o- (“to live”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short and Gaffiot cite a letter of Cicero's son in Cicero's Letters to Friends.^[4][5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant one who lives with another on intimate terms, a table companion, messmate, familiar friend, as in Horace and Pliny the Younger.^[2][4][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for a companion.^[7] Köbler also lists a Medieval Latin convictor from convincere, a different word.^[6]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero's son uses it in a letter.^[4][6]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it.^[5][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A companion, messmate, intimate friend.^[2][4]

Related words

• convīctiō
• convīctus
• convīvor
• convīvō
• convīva
• vīvō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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