viator Latin · revision 31961

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *uih₁-eh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''viātor''' ''m'' (genitive viātōris, feminine viātrīx); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ An inscription spells it ''veator''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|via|-tor|t1=road]],^(OLD 2012) or by Wiktionary's analysis from the verb [[m|la|viō|t=to travel]], itself from [[m|la|via]].^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|via]] to [[itc-pro|*wijā-|t=road]] and [[ine-pro|*uih₁-eh₂-|t=pursuit]], from the root of [[m|la|vīs|t=you want]], “to strive after”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|víú|t=road]], [[xum|via|t=road]], [[sa|वीत|tr=vītá-|t=turned to]], [[grc|ἵεμαι|tr=híemai|t=to strive after]] and [[lt|výti|t=to drive, pursue]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who has the traveller and the robber in the ''Pro Milone'': sometimes the traveller is killed by the robber, sometimes the robber by the traveller.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Besides a [[m|en|traveller]] or wayfarer in general,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) it was a title of Mercury as protector of travellers in an inscription.^(OLD 2012) In Roman administration it named an attendant who ran official errands for magistrates and other officers, especially summoning people, as in Cicero, Livy and Pliny; such attendants formed the ''decuria viatorum'', which Petronius mentions.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) In Church Latin it keeps the sense traveller, wayfarer,^(Stelten 1995) and it is common in medieval texts.^(Köbler 2010) ''Viator'' was also a Roman [[m|en|cognomen]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the traveller and of a magistrate's attendant.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of travellers.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of the attendants who summoned people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius of the ''decuria viatorum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|traveller]], [[m|en|wayfarer]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A title of [[m|en|Mercury]] as protector of travellers.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An attendant employed on official errands by magistrates, a [[m|en|summoner]], [[m|en|messenger]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[via]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}