Dictionary formauctor, auctoris(masculine)
Translation
author, originator; authority, backer
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Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | auctor | auctores |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | auctor | auctores |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | auctorem | auctores |
| Genitiveof | auctoris | auctorum |
| Dativeto, for | auctori | auctoribus |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | auctore | auctoribus |
Examples
ignotus .
The author of the book is unknown.
.
They praised the originator of the law.
puniti .
The authors of this plan were punished.
.
He did this on my authority.
.
Nothing is believed without someone to vouch for it.
Auctor, auctoris, m. Third declension, from augeo, to increase, so the root idea is the one who makes a thing grow: the founder, the instigator, the person standing behind it and guaranteeing it.
That explains the ablative absolute me auctore, which means "on my proposal, with my backing" and has nothing to do with writing anything. The literary sense is real but secondary in classical Latin and only became the main one later, which is why Cicero's auctor is more often a sponsor than a novelist. There is a feminine auctrix, but it is rare and auctor is applied to women unchanged. The medieval spelling autor lost the c, and so did French auteur and English author.
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auctor: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "auctor" (author, originator; authority, backer): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 6, lesson 1: auctor, timor, fuga and 7 more words.