sponsor Latin · revision 10075

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=ine-pro *spend-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈspõː.sɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɔn.sor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spōnsor''' ''m'' (genitive spōnsōris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|spondeō|-tor|t1=to pledge]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces ⟨spondeō⟩ to [[itc-pro|*spondeje/o-|t=to libate many times; pledge]], [[ine-pro|*spond-éye/o-|t=to libate]], cognate with [[grc|σπένδω|tr=spéndō|t=to pour a libation]] and [[hit|išpant-|t=to libate]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, and Gaffiot cites his letters.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==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”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical and Medieval Latin it was a sponsor at baptism, a godparent.^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) English ''sponsor'' (1650s, first “godparent”) is from it, and German ''Sponsor'' too.^(Etymonline)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1650s – English ''sponsor'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law)'' A [[m|en|surety]], guarantor.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A [[m|en|godparent]], baptismal [[m|en|sponsor]].^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spondeō]]

+ * [[spōnsiō]]

+ * [[en|sponsor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis & Short compare ''vās'', ''praes'' and ''vindex''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}