Etymologically
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interpres

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈtɛr.prɛs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈtɛr.pres][1]

Forms

interpres m or f (genitive interpretis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is a compound of inter “between”, but the second part is unexplained.[2][3] Walde and Hofmann took it as a back-formation from interpretor “to fix the value between”, from pretium “price”, which the OLD considers possible; de Vaan objects that one would then expect *interpretiārī.[4][3] Nussbaum's view, which de Vaan follows, makes it Proto-Italic *enter-poret- (“who goes between”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to cross”), as in portō and Ancient Greek πόρος (póros, “passage”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus, where a character says a deal was done in someone's presence and through him as go-between.[4][2][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[2]

Semantic evolution

It was first an intermediary, agent or broker, then a spokesman or ambassador, and especially a priest as the spokesman or messenger of a god.[3] It was also one who explains or expounds: Plautus calls Oedipus the interpres of the Sphinx.[3] Most commonly it was an interpreter of foreign languages or a translator, as when Varro says “our translators rendered ὀμφαλός as umbilīcus”.[3]

Medieval writers used it of a spokesman and a messenger.[5] It survives in French interprète, Italian interprete and Spanish intérprete.[1] English interpret came from interpretor in the late 14th century, and English interpreter from Late Latin interpretātor.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a go-between.[3][2]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro speaks of “our translators”.[3][2]
  • late 14th century – English interpret is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An intermediary, agent, go-between.[3]
  2. A spokesman; the messenger of a god.[3]
  3. An explainer, expounder.[3]
  4. An interpreter, translator.[3]

Word family

  • interpretor
  • interpretābilis
  • interpretāmentum
  • interpretātiō
  • interpretātiuncula
  • interpretātor
  • interpretātōrius
  • interpretātus
  • pretium
  • English interpret
  • English interpreter

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com