LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinethird declension

explōrātor

explōrātor m (genitive explōrātōris)
Classical[ɛk.spɫoːˈraː.tɔr]Ecclesiastical[ek.sploˈraː.tor]

Meaning

  1. an explorer
  2. a scout
    Qua re per exploratores nuntiataThese things having been announced by the scoutsc. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico VII.11
  3. a spy

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

quī hostium rēs occultē quaerit
explōrātor -ōris (m) — in IVLIANVS I: Gallia, ch. 9
quī sēcrētō hostēs spectat
scout
explōrātor -ōris (m) — in De Bello Gallico I, ch. 8

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Explorator · Speculator · Emissarius

Exploratores are scouts, publicly ordered to explore the state of the country or the enemy; speculatores, spies, secretly sent out to observe the condition and plans of the enemy; emissarii, secret agents, commissioned with reference to eventual measures and negotiations. (vi. 117.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeexplōrātorexplōrātōrēs
genitiveexplōrātōrisexplōrātōrum
dativeexplōrātōrīexplōrātōribus
accusativeexplōrātōremexplōrātōrēs
ablativeexplōrātōreexplōrātōribus
vocativeexplōrātorexplōrātōrēs

explōrātor, ōris, m. id.,
I. a searcher out, examiner, explorer; a prying person, a spy (not in Cic.)
I. In gen.: rerum, Lucil. ap. Non. 366, 31: suppositicius, Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 71.—
b. Adj., searching: ignes, Claud. III. Cons. Hon. praef. 11: foci, Mart. 8, 51, 4.—
II. In partic.
A. In milit. lang.
(a). A spy, scout, Caes. B. G. 1, 12, 2; 2, 5, 4; 2, 11, 3; 2, 17, 1 et saep.—
(b). Plur., skirmishers, Tac. H. 2, 17; cf. Inscr. Orell. 5877 sqq.—
B. Explorator viae, one who ran before the emperor to clear the way, Suet. Tib. 60.

Origins

From explōrāre (“to explore, to spy upon, to test”) + -tor (“-er: forming agent nouns”), from ex- (“out”) + plōrāre (“to shout, to cry”), possibly with reference to raising game while hunting by sending out cryers.

Descendants
  • Catalanexplorador
  • Frenchexplorateur
  • Italianesploratore
  • Englishexploratorfrom Middle English exploratour
  • Portugueseexplorador
  • Romanianexplorator
  • Spanishexplorador
  • Galicianexplorador

Quick answers

What does explōrātor mean in Latin?
explōrātor, a noun, means “an explorer; a scout; a spy”.
What is the genitive of explōrātor?
The genitive singular is explōrātōris. explōrātor is masculine, third declension.
How do you pronounce explōrātor?
In classical Latin, [ɛk.spɫoːˈraː.tɔr]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ek.sploˈraː.tor].