editor

Forms

ēditor m (genitive ēditōris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ēdō (“to put forth, produce”) + -tor,^[2] from ē- and dō “to give”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lucan calls the river Sarnus the producer of the night breezes.^[2][4] Köbler dates Lucan 39–65 AD.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Lucan it meant one who brings forth or produces.^[2][6] In the Historia Augusta and in inscriptions it was the giver of public games, an exhibitor.^[2][4][3]

In Late and medieval Latin it was a creator or founder, used of God, and the one who issues a book, a publisher or author.^[7][8] Anselm asks what the author of a pamphlet would answer.^[8] Its descendants include Italian editore and Spanish editor.^[1]

Timeline

• 39–65 AD – Lucan uses it of a river producing breezes.^[2][5]
• 4th/5th century AD – The Historia Augusta uses it of a giver of games.^[4][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. One who produces or brings forth.^[2][6]
2. The giver of public games, an exhibitor.^[2][4]
3. (Late Latin) A publisher, editor; an author.^[1][8]
4. (Medieval Latin) A creator, founder.^[7]

Related words

• ēditiō
• English editor

References

1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ a b c 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