Etymologically
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victor

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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]

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