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senator

Etymology and origin of the Latin word senator

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*sen-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sɛˈnaː.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [seˈnaː.tor][1]

Forms

senātor m (genitive senātōris, feminine senātrīx); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin senātus (“senate”) + -tor,[2][1] from senex “old, old man”,[3][4] from Proto-Indo-European *sen- (“old”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it from Cicero onwards, as in On the Laws.[6][7] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It was a member of the Roman senate, which tradition said Romulus formed of a hundred citizens chosen for age, wisdom and experience.[2][3][4] A senātor pedārius was one of lower standing.[2] Caesar, Cicero and Livy also use it of members of foreign councils.[7]

In medieval Latin it was a member of a municipal curia, of the senatorial nobility, or a lord.[8] British writers used it of an ealdorman, a member of the witan, and in Guernsey of a jurat.[9] English senator is recorded around 1200.[5]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[7][6]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a Gallic council.[7][6]
  • c. 1200 – English senator is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A member of the Roman senate, a senator.[2][1]
  2. A member of a foreign council.[7]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A member of a municipal council; a noble; an ealdorman.[8][9]

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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Senator.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/senator. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·