Etymologically
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negator

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 00:17. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [nɛˈɡaː.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [neˈɡaː.tor][1]

Forms

negātor m (genitive negātōris, feminine negātrīx); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin negō (“to deny”) + -tor.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short call it post-classical, citing Tertullian.[3][4] Köbler dates Tertullian c. 160–220 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant one who denies, a denier, as in Tertullian, Prudentius and Sidonius, and Gaffiot renders Tertullian's and Prudentius' uses as a renegade, apostate.[2][3][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for one who denies a convention or a legal charge.[6] It survives in French négateur, Italian negatore and Spanish negador.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it.[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. One who denies, a denier.[2]
  2. A renegade, apostate.[5]

Word family

  • negātōrius

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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ 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