sponsor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈspõː.sɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɔn.sor]^[1]

Forms

spōnsor m (genitive spōnsōris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin spondeō (“to pledge”) + -tor.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨spondeō⟩ to Proto-Italic *spondeje/o- (“to libate many times; pledge”), Proto-Indo-European *spond-éye/o- (“to libate”), cognate with Ancient Greek σπένδω (spéndō, “to pour a libation”) and Hittite išpant- (“to libate”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, and Gaffiot cites his letters.^[4][5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In law it meant one who formally guarantees the good faith of another, a surety, bondsman, as in Cicero, who also has prōmissōrum alicuius spōnsor “guarantor of someone's promises”.^[2][6][5]

In Ecclesiastical and Medieval Latin it was a sponsor at baptism, a godparent.^[7][8][9] English sponsor (1650s, first “godparent”) is from it, and German Sponsor too.^[10][4]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[5][4]
• 1650s – English sponsor is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. (law) A surety, guarantor.^[2][6]
2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A godparent, baptismal sponsor.^[7][8]

Related words

• spondeō
• spōnsiō
• English sponsor

Usage notes

Lewis & Short compare vās, praes and vindex.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ 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
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com