profector

Latin

Etymology

From prŏfectus, perfect active participle of proficīscor (“I depart”). First attested in an ancient Greek-Latin glossary, glossing Ancient Greek ἔκδημος (ékdēmos, “abroad, gone on a journey”, adj.).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /proˈfek.tor/, [prɔˈfɛkt̪ɔr]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /proˈfek.tor/, [proˈfɛkt̪or]

Noun

profector m (genitive profectōris); third declension

1. (rare, Late Latin, Medieval Latin) traveller
   • 12th century, Martin of Leon, Sermons 23 (In Coena Domini):

     Descendunt igitur decem profectores, id est Judaei Decalogo legis constituti, quos ipse cognoscens non est cognitus ab eis. Cognoscuntur Hebraei a Christo, ipsi autem non cognoscunt Christum. Dederunt quidem illi pecunias, sed Joseph dedit triticum, et reddidit argentum, quia non pecunia emitur Christus, sed gratia.

     Ten travellers [Joseph's brothers] then descend [to Egypt], that is, Jews disposed with the Ten Commandments of the Law. Joseph recognizes them, but he's not recognized by them. Thus the Hebrews are known by Christ, but they do not know Christ. The brothers, naturally, gave him money, but Joseph gave them wheat returning the silver, because Christ is not bought over with money, but grace.

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	profector	profectōrēs
Genitive	profectōris	profectōrum
Dative	profectōrī	profectōribus
Accusative	profectōrem	profectōrēs
Ablative	profectōre	profectōribus
Vocative	profector	profectōrēs

References

• “profector”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press