Etymologically
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dictator

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɪkˈtaː.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [dikˈtaː.tor][1]

Forms

dictātor m (genitive dictātōris, feminine dictātrīx); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from dictō “to say often, prescribe” with the agent suffix -tor.[2][1][3] De Vaan argues from the chronology of the forms that ⟨dictātor⟩ was formed independently of the verb ⟨dictāre⟩, which is later; both belong to dīcō “to say”, from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to show”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cato, of an Italian municipal officer and of Carthaginian commanders.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a magistrate with full powers appointed at Rome in an emergency, and the chief magistrate of several Italian towns.[2][6] Cato also applied it to Carthaginian generals.[2]

Gregory of Tours and other Medieval Latin writers used it, and British Medieval Latin glossed it as “a director, a prince”.[5][7] It survives in Italian dittatore and Spanish dictador, and gave English dictator in the late 14th century, “Roman chief magistrate with absolute authority”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of Italian and Carthaginian officials.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[5]
  • late 14th century – English dictator is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A dictator, a Roman magistrate with full powers in an emergency.[2]
  2. The chief magistrate of an Italian town.[2]
  3. A Carthaginian commander.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  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