English
lector
Lector comes from Late Latin lēctor ‘reader’, and goes back to legō ‘to read’.
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CElegō‘to read’
- Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CElēctor‘reader’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lector
- Englishearliest quotation 2004lector
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CElegō‘to read’
- Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CElēctor‘reader’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lector
- Englishearliest quotation 2004lector
Earliest quotation: 2004, D. J. R. Bruckner, New Inflections and Nuance in a Florida Cigar Factory: “Its lyrical, poetic flights seem much more at home…”
The story
“Voice-over” sense probably adapted from Polish lektor.
Linked words
through Late Latin legō ‘to read’
college, election, collection, elite, lesson, legend, legacy, eligible, colleague, collective, delegation, elegant, coil, select, negligence, legion, delegate, lecture, negligent, collegiate, elect, diligent, negligible, cull, legible, legation, legate, collegium, ineligibility, lectern, 26 more
Today it means
noun A lay person who reads aloud certain religious texts in a church service.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Late Latin legō / lector