noun · masculinethird declension
praeceptor
praeceptor m (genitive praeceptōris)
Classical[prae̯ˈkɛp.tɔr]Ecclesiastical[preˈt͡ʃɛp.tor]
Meaning
- masculineteacher, instructor, tutor, preceptor
Aeacidae Chīrōn, ego sum praeceptor Amōris
Chiron was tutor to Achilles; I am tutor to Love.2 CE, Ovidius, Ars Amatoria 1.17 - masculinepost Augustancommander, ruler
c. 177 CE, Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae 1.13.8
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Doctor · Præceptor · Magister
Doctor means the teacher, as far as he imparts theory, with reference to the student, in opp. to the mere hearer; præceptor, as far as he leads to practice, in reference to the pupil, in opp. to the mere scholar; magister, in a general sense, with reference to his superiority and ascendency in knowledge, in opp. to the laity. Cic. Orat. iii. 15. Vetus illa doctrina eadem videtur et recte faciendi et bene dicendi magistra, neque disjuncti doctores, sed iidem erant vivendi præceptores atque dicendi. And. Mur. 31. (vi. 105).
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | praeceptor | praeceptōrēs |
| genitive | praeceptōris | praeceptōrum |
| dative | praeceptōrī | praeceptōribus |
| accusative | praeceptōrem | praeceptōrēs |
| ablative | praeceptōre | praeceptōribus |
| vocative | praeceptor | praeceptōrēs |
praeceptor, ōris, m. id..
I. One who seizes beforehand, an anticipator (postclass.):
servilium praeceptor operum (al. praereptor, al. praecerptor), Paul. Nol. Ep. 23, n. 4.—II. A commander, ruler (postclass.), Gell. 1, 13, 8.—
III. A teacher, instructor, preceptor (class.):
praeceptor tuus, qui te hanc fallaciam docuit, Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 96: vivendi atque dicendi, Cic. de Or. 3, 15, 57: praeceptor et auctor omnium consiliorum totiusque vitae, id. Phil. 2, 6, 14: fortitudinis, id. Fam. 5, 13, 3: philosophiae, Nep. Epam. 2, 2: recti bonique, Petr. 88: ut praeceptori verborum regula constet, Juv. 7, 230.—Of Christ: Jesu praeceptor, miserere nostri, Vulg. Luc. 17, 13 al.: nostri praeceptores putant, our authorities, Gai. Inst. 2, 219; 3, 87 et saep.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
praeceptor ōris, m
prae+CAP-, a teacher, instructor, preceptor : vivendi atque dicendi: fortitudinis: philosophiae, N.: Aeacidae, O.
Origins
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin praeceptor From praecipiō + -tor.
Descendants
- Englishpreceptor
- Frenchprécepteur
- GermanPräzeptor
- Italianprecettore
- Romanianpreceptor
- Spanishperceptor
- Lower Sorbianceptaŕfrom German Präzeptor
- Polishpreceptor
In English words that came into English from praeceptor
- preceptorpraeceptor
- preceptorypraeceptoria