interpres Latin · revision 5525

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=compound|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈtɛr.prɛs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈtɛr.pres]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''interpres''' ''m'' or f (genitive interpretis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[inter]] “between”, but the second part is unexplained.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Walde and Hofmann took it as a back-formation from [[interpretor]] “to fix the value between”, from [[pretium]] “price”, which the OLD considers possible; de Vaan objects that one would then expect *interpretiārī.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Nussbaum's view, which de Vaan follows, makes it [[itc-pro|*enter-poret-|t=who goes between]], from the root [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to cross]], as in [[portō]] and [[grc|πόρος|tr=póros|t=passage]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus, where a character says a deal was done in someone's presence and through him as go-between.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was first an intermediary, agent or broker, then a spokesman or ambassador, and especially a priest as the spokesman or messenger of a god.^(OLD 2012) It was also one who explains or expounds: Plautus calls Oedipus the ''interpres'' of the Sphinx.^(OLD 2012) Most commonly it was an interpreter of foreign languages or a translator, as when Varro says “our translators rendered ὀμφαλός as ''umbilīcus''”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval writers used it of a spokesman and a messenger.^(DMLBS) It survives in [[fr|interprète]], [[it|interprete]] and [[es|intérprete]].^(Wiktionary) [[en|interpret]] came from [[interpretor]] in the late 14th century, and [[en|interpreter]] from Late Latin ''interpretātor''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a go-between.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro speaks of “our translators”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''interpret'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An intermediary, [[m|en|agent]], go-between.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A spokesman; the messenger of a god.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An explainer, expounder.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An [[m|en|interpreter]], [[m|en|translator]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[interpretor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[interpretābilis]]

+ * [[interpretāmentum]]

+ * [[interpretātiō]]

+ * [[interpretātiuncula]]

+ * [[interpretātor]]

+ * [[interpretātōrius]]

+ * [[interpretātus]]

+ * [[pretium]]

+ * [[en|interpret]]

+ * [[en|interpreter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}