expositor
(ɛkˈspɒzɪtə(r))
Forms: 4 expositur, -pocitour, 4–6 -posytour, 4–7 -itour, 7 expositer, 6– expositor.
[a. AF. *expositour = OF. expositur, Fr. expositeur, ad. L. expositōr-em, agent-n. from expōnĕre: see expone, expose n.1]
1. One who sets forth in detail, expounds, or lays open; a declarer, narrator. Const. of.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. lxxxviii. (1495) 89 Expositours say that some lyce gendre of sangweyn humour and ben red and grete. c 1430 Lydg. Thebes i. 122 Some expositours Groundyng hem, vpon old aucthours, Sain that Cadmus [etc.]. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe iii. (1541) 52 b, The tongue, whiche is raysons exposytour. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. ii. i. 72 A mirth-mouing iest Which his faire tongue (conceits expositor) Deliuers in..apt..words. 1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. iii. viii. 440 The clergy acquiesced in the dictates of a learned queen, as delivered by the royal expositor. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. VI. xxix. 73 Reid..and Rousseau were..expositors of the active powers of man. |
2. One who sets forth the meaning (of a passage, word, etc.); one who explains; an interpreter (of dreams, etc.); an expounder. Const.
of.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxlvi. 8 Thorgh expositurs ha redyis rayne of soft lare. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 145 Good expositours on þe Gospellis. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xxvii. 348 (Add. MS.) Trew expositours, that is, discrete confessours or prelates. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. x. i. 143 To..hearken to the expositors of dreames. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 330 The Hodgei, Emeri, and Mulai, the first are Expositors, the other Mendicants. 1658 T. Wall Comm. Times 29 The word..signifies both a company and a Beast, say Expositors upon the text. 1778 R. Lowth Isaiah Notes (ed. 12) 362 Difficulties in which expositors are frequently engaged. 1833 S. Hoole Discourses ix. 109 By some learned expositors the Grecian philosophy has been blended with Christian Theology. 1850 Gladstone Glean. V. xci. 227 If such be the view of the expositors of the law. |
| fig. a 1716 South Serm. (J.), The sinner's conscience is the best expositor of the Mind of God, under any judgement or affliction. 1853 Lewes Hist. Philos. 280 Reason is the expositor of Faith. |
b. transf. That which explains or interprets. (Sometimes used as title of a book.)
| 1530 Palsgr., Ep. 5, I have..added..a thirde boke, whiche is a..comment and exposytour unto my seconde. 1604 Hieron Wks. I. 526 The scripture speaketh by the voyce of man, and so it is fitted and applied to be the expositer of it selfe by the industry of man. 1616 Bullokar (title), An English Expositor Or Compleat Dictionary: Teaching The Interpretation of the hardest words. a 1754 Fielding Charac. Man Wks. 1784 IX. 414 Actions are their own best expositors. 1760–2 Doddridge (title), The Family Expositor. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) VI. 497 The intention of the devisor expressed in his will was the best expositor..and disposer of his words. |