investor English · revision 10778

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1586|origins=en invest}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɪnˈves.tə/, US /ɪnˈves.tɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an agent noun from [[invest]] and [[-or]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who clothes or invests, as with an office: the 1580s in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) one who besieges with a military force, 1586 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One who invests money is from 1862.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster contrasts the investor, who seeks long-term profit at low risk, with the speculator.^(MWU 2024) A punter on horse races or football pools is an investor from 1958,^(OED 1989) and ''investor relations'' is from 1959, after public relations.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1580s – one who clothes.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1586 – a besieger.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1862 – one who invests money.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1959 – investor relations.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or organization that puts money into a [[business]] or property in the hope of [[profit]].^(LDOCE 2009)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[noninvestor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[invest]]

+ * [[investment]]

+ * [[vest]]

+ * [[vestment]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}