debitor
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Pronunciation
Forms
dēbitor m (genitive dēbitōris, feminine dēbitrīx); third declension[1]
Etymology
It is from dēbeō “to owe” with the suffix -tor.[2][3]
Earliest recorded meaning
The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of a debtor.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]
Semantic evolution
It meant a person who owes money, a debtor, as in Cicero, and in Quintilian someone indebted for a service.[2]
In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a debtor, and Medieval Latin used it for a sinner, after the debts of the Lord's Prayer.[5][6] British Medieval Latin used it of a debtor and of anyone under an obligation.[7] It survives in Spanish deudor and Portuguese devedor, and through Anglo-French detour it gave English debtor about 1200.[1][3]
Timeline
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a debtor.[2][4]
- c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of someone indebted.[2][4]
- c. 1200 – English debtor is recorded.[3]
Meanings
Noun
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
- ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
- ^ 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