imperator Latin · revision 7404

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la parō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''imperātor''' ''m'' (genitive imperātōris, feminine imperātrīx); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[imperō]] “to command” with the agent suffix [[-tor]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) The TLL compares [[osc|embratur|t=commander]].^(TLL) Ennius and Lucretius have the archaic ⟨induperātor⟩, and an inscription spells it ⟨inpeirātor⟩.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Varro derives it from the ⟨imperium⟩ of the people.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of a person in charge and of a commander.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant one who gives orders, a leader, master, as in Plautus, Cicero and Sallust, and in Pliny the ruler of a people.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant a commanding officer, general, and in Cicero ''Iuppiter Imperātor'' was a cult title.^(OLD 2012) It was a title of honour given to a victorious general by acclamation of his troops or by the senate, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) Under the Empire it became a title of the emperors, and in Nepos the Roman emperor himself.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''prīmus'' is first in time, ''prīnceps'' first to act, whom others follow.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant emperor.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin also used it of a military commander and of Christ.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''imperatore'', Spanish ''emperador'' and Romanian ''împărat'', and through Old French ''empereor'' it gave [[en|emperor]] in the early 13th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius has ''induperātor''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a victorious general's title.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 13th century – English ''emperor'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A commander, leader, master; a ruler.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A general.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A title of a victorious general.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The Roman [[m|en|emperor]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[modimperātor]]

+ * [[eximperātor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[imperātīvus]]

+ * [[imperiālis]]

+ * [[imperium]]

+ * [[imperō]]

+ * [[dux]]

+ * [[en|emperor]]

+ * [[en|imperial]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}