inspector

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈspɛk.tɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈspɛk.tor]^[1]

Forms

īnspector m (genitive īnspectōris, feminine īnspectrīx); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from īnspiciō “to look into” with the agent suffix -tor.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Seneca, “an observer”.^[2] Köbler's first source is Seneca the Elder.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant an observer, witness, as in Seneca, and in Ulpian and the Codex an examiner, inspector.^[2][5] Lewis & Short note it is post-Augustan, and Augustine calls God the īnspector cordis “searcher of hearts”.^[6][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for an onlooker, a reader or examiner of books, and a diviner, and Gildas uses it.^[7] It gave English inspector about 1600, “overseer, superintendent”.^[3]

Timeline

• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it.^[2][4]
• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of examiners.^[2][4]
• c. 1600 – English inspector is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. An observer, onlooker.^[2]
2. An examiner, inspector.^[2]

Related words

• īnspiciō
• īnspectiō
• English inspector

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
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