instructor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈstruːk.tɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈstruk.tor]^[1]

Forms

īnstrūctor m (genitive īnstrūctōris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin īnstruō (“to equip, arrange”) + -tor.^[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨struō⟩ to Proto-Italic *strow-e/o-, from Proto-Indo-European *strew-e/o- (“to strew”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cicero, īnstrūctor convīviī “the arranger of a banquet”.^[5][6][7] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[7]

Semantic evolution

It was a person who equips or arranges, a preparer, as in Cicero.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was an instructor, an auditor, and in church trials a person, often a judge, appointed to gather proofs and present them to the judge.^[8] British Medieval Latin used it for a builder, and of God the Creator.^[9] English instructor (mid-15th century) came from Old French instructeur and Medieval Latin instructor “teacher”, and it is also Spanish instructor and Italian istruttore.^[3][1]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a banquet.^[5][7]
• mid-15th century – English instructor is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A person who equips or arranges, a preparer.^[2][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) A teacher; a builder.^[3][9]
3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) An officer who gathers proofs in a trial.^[8]

Related words

• īnstruō
• īnstrūctiō
• English instructor

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
8. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ a b 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