orator Latin · revision 5364

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Ennius|origins=la ōrō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ōrātor''' ''m'' (genitive ōrātōris, feminine ōrātrīx); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ōrō|-tor|t1=to plead, speak]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ''ōrō'' from [[m|la|ōs|t=mouth]] and says its first meaning was “to plead, speak openly”.^(de Vaan 2008) Varro says the ''orator'' was named from the speech ([[oratio|alt=ōrātiō]]) he made before those to whom he was sent.^(Varro)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ennius has “the envoy returns without peace”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Naevius (c. 235–200 BC).^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It first meant an envoy or spokesman, one sent with a spoken message, as in Ennius, Plautus and Terence.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It then meant a public speaker, orator or advocate, as Ennius' “the good speaker is scorned, the rough soldier loved”.^(OLD 2012) The OLD quotes the definition “an orator, Marcus my son, is a good man skilled in speaking”, which Isidore repeats.^(OLD 2012)^(Isidore)

+

+ Cicero's work ''Orator'' bears the name, and Lactantius calls Cicero simply “the orator”.^(Gaffiot 2016) In medieval Latin it meant one who prays for another and a pilgrim.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) English ''orator'' was borrowed in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of an envoy and of a speaker.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero writes the ''Orator''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''orator'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|envoy]], ambassador, spokesman.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A public speaker, [[m|en|orator]], [[m|en|advocate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' One who prays for another; a [[m|en|pilgrim]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ōrātōrius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oro]]

+ * [[en|orator]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}