evangelista

Forms

evangelista m (genitive evangelistae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek εὐαγγελιστής (euangelistḗs, “bringer of good news, evangelist”).^[1][2][3] The Greek noun comes from εὐαγγελίζομαι (euangelízomai, “to bring good news”).^[4] By surface analysis it is evangelium with the suffix -ista.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL's earliest instance is in Tertullian,^[3] who wrote about 160–220 AD;^[5] he uses it of Matthew as the author of a Gospel.^[3]

Semantic evolution

In Christian Latin it meant both a preacher of the Gospel and one of the four authors of the Gospels.^[3][6] The Vulgate uses it for a herald of good news and for a preacher of the Gospel;^[3] Augustine explains the evangelists as messengers of good tidings.^[3] Prudentius has it too.^[2]

Medieval Latin used it of the four evangelists and of missionaries, and by metonymy for the Gospel book itself.^[7][8] English evangelist comes from it through French in the 12th century.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian calls Matthew an evangelist.^[3][5]
• 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses the word.^[2][5]
• 354–430 AD – Augustine explains it as “messenger of good news”.^[3][5]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it for a preacher of the Gospel.^[3][5]
• late 12th century – English borrows evangelist for the authors of the Gospels.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bringer of good news.^[3][7]
2. A preacher of the Gospel; a missionary.^[2][3][6][7]
3. An evangelist, one of the four authors of the Gospels.^[3][6][9]
4. (Medieval Latin) The Gospel book.^[7]

Related words

• evangelium
• English evangelist

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ 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
9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson