victor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈwɪk.tɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvik.tor]^[1]

Forms

victor m (genitive victōris, feminine victrīx); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from vincō “to conquer”, supine stem ⟨vict-⟩, with the agent suffix -tor.^[2][1][3] Its feminine is victrīx.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of a conqueror.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant one who prevails over an adversary, a conqueror, as Caesar's tribute imposed by victors on the vanquished and Cicero's omnium gentium victor.^[2][5][6] In Virgil it meant the winner of a contest.^[2] From Plautus it was used predicatively and as an adjective, victorious, and in Ovid of weapons and things linked to victory.^[2] In Livy it was a cult title of Jupiter and other gods, and in Macrobius of Hercules.^[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a victor, conqueror, winner.^[7] British Medieval Latin also used it of the winner of a lawsuit.^[8] It survives in Italian vittore, and Anglo-French and Old French gave English victor in the mid-14th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a conqueror.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it as an adjective.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it as a title of Jupiter.^[2][4]
• mid-14th century – English victor is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A conqueror, victor; a winner.^[2]
2. Victorious; used predicatively.^[2]
3. A cult title of Jupiter and other gods.^[2]

Related words

• vincō
• victōria
• victrīx
• English victor
• English victory

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
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