calculator

Forms

calculator n (plural calculatoare)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French calculateur and Latin calculātor;^[2][3][4][1] DELR, DEX and MDA2 name both sources.^[2][3][4][1] DELR treats the noun for the machine as a separate borrowing from the French word alone, and the DLRM calls it a formation after French.^[2][5] It can also be analysed as an agent noun formed on calcula.^[1]

The Latin noun meant a person versed in arithmetic, a teacher of arithmetic or an accountant.^[6][7] It is formed on calculō (“to calculate”) with the agent suffix -tor.^[1][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

DELR dates the noun for a person who calculates to 1822, with an old variant calculatoriu.^[2] Negulici (1848) defines it as one who calculates, who reckons.^[8]

Semantic evolution

Through the 19th century it named a person who calculates, and figuratively a careful, calculating one.^[9][10] DELR dates the neuter noun for a calculating machine to 1913.^[2] The DLRM of 1958 also gives a booklet of tables of calculations.^[5] The electronic computer, calculator electronic, is now the main sense, and calculator de buzunar is the pocket calculator.^[3][4] DELR dates the derivative minicalculator to 1974.^[2] In slang the word is a joking name for a pig's head sold at the butcher's.^[11]

Timeline

• 1822 – first record, “one who calculates”, also as calculatoriu.^[2]
• 1848 – in Negulici's dictionary of neologisms.^[8]
• 1913 – “calculating machine”.^[2]
• 1949 – in the Lexiconul tehnic român, MDA2's first record.^[4]
• 1970 – microcalculator.^[2]
• 1974 – minicalculator.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A computer, calculator electronic.^[3][1]
2. A calculator;^[3][1] calculator de buzunar “pocket calculator”.^[3][1]
3. A table of calculated results used to simplify reckoning, or a booklet of such tables.^[3]
4. (masculine and feminine) A person specialised in calculations, mainly economic ones.^[3]

Word family

• minicalculator

Related words

• calcul
• calcula
• French calculateur
• Latin calculātor

Usage notes

The neuter noun for the machine and the table has the plural calculatoare; the noun for a person is masculine, plural calculatori, feminine calculatoare.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2011–), Dicționarul etimologic al limbii române (DELR), vol. I: A–B (2011), vol. II: C (2015–2018), București: Editura Academiei Române; continued online at delr.lingv.ro, p. s.v. calcul
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i DEX (2009), Dicționarul explicativ al limbii române [Explanatory dictionary of the Romanian language], Bucharest: Editura Univers Enciclopedic, p. 134
4. ^ a b c d Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2010), Micul dicționar academic, 2nd ed., 4 vols., București: Univers Enciclopedic Gold, p. 1, 278
5. ^ a b Academia Republicii Populare Romîne (1958), Dicționarul limbii romîne moderne, București: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne, p. 1, 108
6. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b Negulici, I. D. (1848), Vocabular romînesc de toate vorbele streine întroduse pînă acum în limba romînească și de toate cuvintele ce s-ar mai putea introduce încă, București, p. s.v. calculator
9. ^ Șăineanu, Lazăr (1929), Dicționar universal al limbei române, 6th ed., Craiova: Scrisul Românesc, p. 1, 92
10. ^ Candrea, I.-A.; Adamescu, Gh. (1926–1931), Dicționarul enciclopedic ilustrat „Cartea Românească”, București: Cartea Românească, p. s.v. calculator
11. ^ Volceanov, George (2007), Dicționar de argou al limbii române, București: Niculescu, p. s.v. calculator