umpire English · revision 91

+ ==Etymology==

+ From [[enm|noumpere|t=arbitrator, mediator]] (mid-14th century),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) [[bor|fro|nonper|t=odd number, not even]],^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) from ''non'' “not” + ''per'' “equal”,^(Etymonline)^(AHD) [[der|la|pār|t=equal]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) The idea is of an odd third person who arbitrates between two.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ By about 1400 the initial ''n-'' began to be lost, as ''a noumpere'' was heard as ''an oumpere'',^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) the same change as in [[adder]] and [[apron]].^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) The word was originally legal; its sporting use is recorded by 1714, in wrestling.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Noun==

+ '''umpire'''

+

+ # An official who enforces the rules and decides on plays in a sport, especially baseball.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person chosen to settle a dispute between parties; an arbitrator.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' A third person called in to decide when arbitrators cannot agree.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Verb==

+ '''umpire'''

+

+ # To act as umpire in a game, or to settle a dispute as umpire.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}