Etymologically
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probator

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Forms

probātor m (genitive probātōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin probō (“to test, approve”) + -tor.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨probus⟩ “good, upright” to Proto-Italic ⟨*pro-f(w)-o-⟩ “favourable”, from ⟨*pro-⟩ and Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to be”), cognate with Umbrian ⟨prufe⟩ “correctly” and Oscan ⟨prúfatted⟩ “approved”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, who asks quid interest inter suāsōrem factī et probātōrem? “what difference is there between the adviser of a deed and its approver?”.[4][5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant one who approves or commends, an approver, as in Cicero, and in Apuleius one who puts to the test, an examiner, and Lewis & Short call it rare but classical.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means tester, examiner.[6] Medieval Latin used it for an assayer.[7] In British Medieval Latin it was in law an approver, one who confesses guilt and accuses an accomplice.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of an approver.[5][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of an examiner.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An approver, one who commends.[2][5]
  2. An examiner, tester.[2][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) An assayer.[7]

Word family

  • probātōria

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  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