arbiter Latin · revision 30890

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 450 BC, Twelve Tables|origins=la ad-, la baetō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈar.bɪ.tɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈar.bi.ter]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''arbiter''' ''m'' (genitive arbitrī, feminine arbitra); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably formed from [[m|la|ad-|t=to]] and the verb [[m|la|baetō|t=to go]], also spelled ⟨bītō⟩: “one who goes to see or hear”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan notes the matching [[xum|ařputrati|t=by the judgement]], which answers to Latin ⟨arbitrātū⟩, and explains ⟨ar-⟩ from ⟨ad⟩ by a sporadic change before labials.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Twelve Tables already use it beside ⟨iūdex⟩: ''iūdicī arbitrōve''.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its oldest sense is an eyewitness or onlooker, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In law it is an arbitrator chosen to settle a dispute, with wider discretion than a ''iūdex'', and in general a judge or umpire: Plautus asks the audience to be fair judges of his play.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is also an overseer, master or ruler, and Livy uses it of the agent who brings about concord among citizens.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “judge, arbitrator, umpire, witness”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''arbiter'' (late 14th century) comes from it, partly through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables of an arbitrator.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of an onlooker and of judges of a play.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of an agent of concord.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|arbiter]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|eyewitness]], onlooker, spectator.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(law)'' An [[m|en|arbitrator]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A judge, [[m|en|umpire]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # An overseer, master, ruler; an agent.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[arbitra]]

+ * [[arbitrālis]]

+ * [[arbitrārius]]

+ * [[arbitrium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[arbitrātus]]

+ * [[arbitror]]

+ * [[ad]]

+ * [[baetō]]

+ * [[en|arbiter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Arbiter'' was also the cognomen of the writer Petronius.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}