contestor Latin · revision 9110

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Cicero|origins=la testis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''contestor''' (present infinitive contestārī, perfect active contestātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[con-]] and [[testor]] “to call to witness”, from [[testis]] “witness”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, and Cicero has ''deōs hominēsque contestārī'' “to call gods and men to witness”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to call to witness, and with ''ut'' to appeal to the gods.^(OLD 2012) In law ''lītem contestārī'' was to join issue, the formal opening of a lawsuit, when both parties called witnesses.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline)

+

+ It survives in Italian ''contestare'' and Spanish ''contestar''.^(Wiktionary) Through French ''contester'' it gave [[en|contest]] about 1600, first “to fight for, strive to win”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1600 – English ''contest'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To call to witness.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(law)'' ''lītem contestārī'', to join issue.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contestātiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[testor]]

+ * [[testis]]

+ * [[en|contest]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}