accusator Latin · revision 18163

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la causa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ak.kuːˈsaː.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ak.kuˈs̬aː.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''accūsātor''' ''m'' (genitive accūsātōris, feminine accūsātrīx); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|accūsō|-tor|t1=to accuse]], the agent noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) [[m|la|accūsō]] is from [[m|la|ad|t=to]] and [[m|la|causa|t=cause, lawsuit]].^(Wiktionary) De Vaan finds the origin of [[m|la|causa]] uncertain: Walde and Hofmann connected it with [[m|la|cūdō|t=to strike]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero.^(Köbler 2010) The orator Mancinus says ''in L. Libōnem accūsātor veniō'', “I come forward as prosecutor against Lucius Libo”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Accūsātor'' is the prosecutor in a public trial, the accuser;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) L&S say it is used especially of charges against the state, while ''[[petītor]]'' is the plaintiff in a private suit.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' says that the accuser's task is to bring charges.^(OLD 2012) It is also a habitual or professional prosecutor (Cicero of a man who sought no office but was a fierce and troublesome accuser), and Wiktionary adds “informer”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “accuser”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|accuser]] (mid-14th century) comes from it through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a professional prosecutor.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English [[m|en|accuser]], through Anglo-French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|accuser]], [[m|en|prosecutor]], plaintiff (in a public trial).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A professional prosecutor.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An [[m|en|informer]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[accūsātōrius]]

+ * [[accūsātrīx]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accūsābilis]]

+ * [[accūsātiō]]

+ * [[accūsātīvus]]

+ * [[accūsātōriē]]

+ * [[accūsitō]]

+ * [[accūsō]]

+ * [[causa]]

+ * [[petītor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}