Etymologically
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monitor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmɔ.nɪ.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɔː.ni.tor][1]

Forms

monitor m (genitive monitōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from moneō “to remind, warn” with the agent suffix -tor.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Terence, whose character needed no adviser.[2][4] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant one who reminds or advises, a counsellor, guide, as in Terence, Sallust and Seneca, and a legal adviser.[2][6] It also meant a prompter who reminds someone what to say, and a nomenclator who tells a candidate the names of voters, as in Cicero.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was an admonisher, adviser, overseer, prayer leader and superintendent.[7] In Medieval Latin it meant one who teaches, advises or warns.[8] English monitor was borrowed in the 1540s for a senior pupil keeping order.[3]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of an adviser.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a prompter.[2][5]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of a guide.[6][5]
  • 1540s – English monitor is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An adviser, counsellor, guide.[2]
  2. A prompter; a nomenclator.[2]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) An overseer.[7]

Word family

  • monitōrius

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ 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. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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