Etymologically
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protector

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [proːˈteːk.tɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [proˈtɛk.tor][1]

Forms

prōtēctor m (genitive prōtēctōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prōtegō + -tor, an agent noun.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL finds it from the Old Latin Bible, Tertullian and inscriptions of the 3rd century on.[3] Tertullian speaks of legum protectores, “protectors of the laws”.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant one who protects, defends or guards;[3][2] an inscription quoted by the OLD calls Jupiter the protector of the emperor Marcus Aurelius Severus.[2] The Vulgate uses it of God in the Psalms.[4] In the Late Empire it was the title of a guard of the emperor's person, and later a high honorary rank;[4][1] Ammianus and the Theodosian Code use it so.[4] The word passed into Greek.[3]

In medieval Latin it was a patron and protector, also of God, Christ or a saint,[5] the title of the Cardinal Protector of the Franciscan order,[5] and in England the title of a regent ruling in the king's place.[5] English protector came in the late 14th century from Old French and directly from the Late Latin word.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian speaks of protectors of the laws.[4][7]
  • c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses it for one of the emperor's bodyguard.[4][7]
  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of God in the Psalms.[4][7]
  • 438 AD – The Theodosian Code deals with the protectores.[4][7]
  • 625 – A papal letter preserved by Bede calls Saint Peter the protector of the recipients.[5]
  • late 14th century – English borrows it as protector.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A protector, guardian, defender.[2][4][3]
  2. (Late Latin) A member of the emperor's bodyguard; later a high honorary title.[4][1]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) God as protector.[4][5]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A patron; the Cardinal Protector of the Franciscan order.[5]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A regent ruling in the king's place (Protector of England).[5]
  • English protector

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de