commentator

The story

1. Latin · derived fromcommentātor“author, inventor, interpreter, jailer”
2. Middle English · inherited fromcommentator
3. English todaycommentator

In form, from Middle English commentator, from Latin commentātor (“author, inventor, interpreter, jailer”), from commentātus + -or (“-er: forming agent nouns”), from commentāri (“to ponder, to study, to write upon”), from comminīscor (“to think over, to invent”) + -tārī (“to frequently be ~ed”). In meaning, influenced by comment and commentary. By surface analysis, comment + -ator.

First known use, by meaning

• 1475 Synonym of historian or chronicler, a person who compiles an annotated history.
• 1641 A person who compiles explanations and critical notes on a text.
• 1928 A person who provides an instantaneous description of a public event, particularly a sporting event, for a mass media audience.
• 1938 A person who provides analysis or opinion on current events, especially for a mass media audience.