-torius

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

From -tor +‎ -ius.

Pronunciation

Suffix

-tōrius (feminine -tōria, neuter -tōrium); first/second-declension suffix

  1. -ory; used to form adjectives from verbs
    Synonym: -ārius
    mereō, merēre, meruī, meritum (to deserve, earn, merit) + ‎-tōrius → ‎meritōrius (profitable)
    texō, texere, texuī, textum (to weave) + ‎-tōrius → ‎textōrius (of weaving) — could also be derived from textor (weaver) with -ius

Usage notes

This suffix is one of many (including -tus, -tor, -tiō, -tim, -tō, -tūra) that all use the same verb stem as the supine, perfect passive participle, and/or future active participle, found in the verb's fourth principal part. This stem is conventionally considered to end in -t- (or for some verbs, -s-), which would imply analyzing the suffixes as -us, -or, -io, -im, etc. However, from an etymological perspective it is more accurate to identify -t-/-s- as the initial consonant of these suffixes.

  • Most 1st conjugation verbs attach -t- after the theme vowel -ā-: e.g. amō, amātor, but a few form this principal part differently: e.g. secō > sectiō. Similarly, many 4th conjugation verbs use -ī-t-, but some use other formations, e.g. saliō > salto.
  • 2nd conjugation verbs are less consistent. Many use -i-t- (moneō, monitor); some attach -t- after the final consonant of the root (doceō > doctor); a considerable number lack this principal part. Monosyllabic stems use -ē-t-: ex-pleō (stem plē-) > explētiō.
  • Many 3rd conjugation verbs (and some 1st, 2nd and 4th) attach -t- directly after a consonant, which can cause complex changes. When -t- is placed after -t- or -d-, the consonants merge to -ss- (simplified to -s- if not preceded by short vowel): metō > messor, caedo > caesūra. Occasionally -s- is used after other consonants: curro > cursim, mergo > mersō. Before -t-, -b- -g- are regularly devoiced to -p- -c-: scrībō > scrīptor; frīgō > frīctus. The addition of -t- can be accompanied by various other changes, including vowel shortening, vowel lengthening, consonant insertion, or consonant deletion; see -tus for more information.

Note that in some cases, where the suffix -ius is added to an agent noun ending in -tor, the result may be difficult or impossible to distinguish from the addition of -tōrius.

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative -tōrius -tōria -tōrium -tōriī -tōriae -tōria
genitive -tōriī -tōriae -tōriī -tōriōrum -tōriārum -tōriōrum
dative -tōriō -tōriae -tōriō -tōriīs
accusative -tōrium -tōriam -tōrium -tōriōs -tōriās -tōria
ablative -tōriō -tōriā -tōriō -tōriīs
vocative -tōrie -tōria -tōrium -tōriī -tōriae -tōria

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Aromanian: -tor, -toari
  • Asturian: -doriu
  • Dutch: -orisch (calque)
  • German: -orisch (calque)
  • Italian: -toio, -toia
  • Old French: -oire
    • Middle English: -orie
    • French: -oire
    • Norman: -ouaithe (Jersey)
  • Old Galician-Portuguese: -doiro
  • Romanian: -tor, -ător, -toare, -ătoare
  • Spanish: -dero
  • Borrowings: