Etymograph

English

author

Author comes from Middle English auctour, via Anglo-Norman autour and Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augeō ‘to increase, originate’.

  1. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*augeō‘to increase’reconstructed
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaugeō‘to increase, originate’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEauctor‘originator, author’
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400autor
  5. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400autour
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500auctour‘creator, author’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1661author

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*augeō‘to increase’reconstructed
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaugeō‘to increase, originate’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEauctor‘originator, author’
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400autor
  5. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400autour
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500auctour‘creator, author’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1661author

Earliest quotation: 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned: “During the whole time of his abode in the…”

The story

The h, also found in Middle French autheur, is unetymological as there is no h in the original Latin spelling. The OED attributes the h to contamination by authentic.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewg- ‘to increase, to enlarge’

august, nickname, eke, 10 more

through Proto-Italic *augeō ‘to increase’

auxiliary, augmentation, 6 more

through Latin augeō ‘to increase, originate’

auction, augment, 6 more

through Old French autor ‘author (writer)’

auteur

Today it means

noun The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition; or, one of the creators of a collaborative work.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Italic *augeō / author

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