speculator Latin · revision 31650

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=la speciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [spɛ.kʊˈɫaː.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [spe.kuˈlaː.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''speculātor''' ''m'' (genitive speculātōris, feminine speculātrīx); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Inscriptions write ''specl-''.^(OLD 2012) It is also written ''spicul-''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|speculor|-tor|t1=to watch, spy out]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The verb comes from [[specula|t=lookout post]] and ultimately [[speciō|t=to look]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*spekjō|alt=*spekje/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*spéḱyeti|alt=*speḱ-ie/o-|t=to look]], cognate with [[sa|स्पश्|tr=spáś-|t=spy]] and [[grc|σκέπτομαι|tr=sképtomai|t=to look about]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Varro,^(de Vaan 2008) who defines it as the man we send ahead to look out for what we want to know.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a military word for a scout or spy, and outside the army anyone who spies on others: Cicero says his honesty rejects a guard and his care fears no spy.^(OLD 2012) It is also a lookout or watcher, as when Cicero calls the eyes the scouts that hold the highest place.^(OLD 2012) Under the Empire the ''speculātōrēs'' were soldiers ranking close to the centurions, also employed to carry out executions;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Seneca tells of a man who met them and offered his neck.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “eyewitness, spy, scout, explorer, watchman”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it was an estate manager, and also a bishop.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|speculator]] (1550s) first meant one who speculates in thought; the financial sense is from 1778.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of a scout sent ahead.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a spy and of the eyes as watchers.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of the imperial ''speculātōrēs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – inscriptions.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Medieval Latin – estate manager; bishop.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ * 1550s – English [[m|en|speculator]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|scout]] or [[m|en|spy]]; one who spies on others; a lookout, watcher.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Under the Empire, a soldier of a guard unit ranking near the centurions, also used for executions.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An explorer, investigator.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An estate manager; a [[m|en|bishop]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[speculor]]

+ * [[specula]]

+ * [[speciō]]

+ * [[en|speculator]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''explōrātōrēs'', scouts officially sent to survey the country or the enemy, from ''speculātōrēs'', spies sent secretly to observe the enemy's state and plans.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}