Etymologically
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monstrator

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [mõːˈstraː.tɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [monˈstraː.tor][1]

Forms

mōnstrātor m (genitive mōnstrātōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin mōnstrō (“to point out, show”) + -tor, an agent noun.[2][1][3] De Vaan lists that verb among the derivatives of moneō (“to remind, warn”), through mōnstrum (“sign, portent”) from ⟨*mone-stro-⟩; he traces that verb to Proto-Italic *moneje- and Proto-Indo-European *mon-eie- (“to make think of, remind”).[4] Cognate with Sanskrit मानयति (mānáyati, “to honour, respect”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Virgil,[3] who in the Georgics calls on the boy who first showed men the curved plough;[2][5] Lewis and Short identify him as Triptolemus.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It is a word of poetry and of prose after Augustus.[5] Ovid uses it of the one who introduced a wicked sacrifice, in the sense of a first teacher or inventor.[5][6] Seneca uses it of a guide who shows a guest round unfamiliar cities, and Tacitus of one who points out lodging.[2][6][7] In British medieval Latin it is one who shows or reveals: Anselm calls John the Baptist the one who pointed out God.[8]

Timeline

  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the first teacher of the plough.[2][3]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of the introducer of a sacrifice.[5][3]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a guide to unknown cities.[2][3]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it in the Germania.[5][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. One who points out the way, a guide.[2][5]
  2. One who shows something for the first time, a demonstrator, inventor or teacher.[2][5]
  3. (Medieval Latin) One who reveals.[8]

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 d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b 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 e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ 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