collector English · revision 15021

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la colligō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|collectour]], [[bor|xno|collectour]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-med|collēctor|t=one who collects]], an agent noun from [[la|colligō|t=to gather together]] (see [[collect]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A gatherer of money or taxes: about 1380 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A parish officer collecting alms for the poor is from 1557,^(OED 1989) and one who gathers things together in general from 1582.^(OED 1989) An apparatus for collecting something is from 1777,^(OED 1989) and a person who collects objects of interest as a pursuit by 1774.^(Etymonline) In India the collector was the chief administrator of a district (1772).^(OED 1989) The ticket collector at a railway station is from 1887,^(OED 1989) and in electronics one of the three electrodes of a transistor from 1948.^(OED 1989) The feminine collectress is from 1825.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – a tax collector.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1557 – a collector of alms.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1772 – a district collector (India).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1774 – a collector of curiosities.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1948 – a transistor's collector.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who collects things, such as stamps or works of art, as a hobby.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A person employed to collect taxes, duties or other payments.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Something that collects, as an electrode that gathers electrons.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(India, historical)'' The chief administrative official of a district.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[collectorship]]

+ * [[subcollector]]

+ * [[undercollector]]

+ * [[collector's item]]

+ * [[solar collector]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[collect]]

+ * [[collection]]

+ * [[collective]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}