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interpretor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word interpretor

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (interpres)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈtɛr.prɛ.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈtɛr.pre.tor][1]

Forms

interpretor (present infinitive interpretārī, perfect active interpretātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is from interpres “agent, interpreter” with the verb suffix -or.[2][1][3] An active ⟨interpretō⟩ is also found, and Lucretius splits it by tmesis, ⟨inter quaecumque pretantur⟩.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of explaining and of making out.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to explain, expound, interpret, as in Plautus, and in Cicero dreams, omens and laws, as his alicui iūs interpretārī.[2][6] From Plautus it meant to understand, make out, and in Cicero to take as meant, to prophesy from omens, to construe in a certain way, and to interpret to suit oneself.[2] In Cicero it also meant to translate into another language.[2]

It survives in Italian interpretare and French interpréter, and Old French interpreter gave English interpret in the late 14th century, interpretātiō gave English interpretation.[1][7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of explaining.[2][5]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius splits it by tmesis.[4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of omens, laws and translation.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English interpret is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To explain, interpret (dreams, omens, laws).[2]
  2. To understand, make out.[2]
  3. To take as meant; to prophesy.[2]
  4. To construe; to interpret to suit oneself.[2]
  5. To translate.[2]

Word family

  • interpretābilis
  • interprex

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Interpretor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/interpretor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·