nomenclator

noun

no·​men·​cla·​tor ˈnō-mən-ˌklā-tər How to pronounce nomenclator (audio)
1
: a book containing collections or lists of words
2
archaic : one who announces the names of guests or of persons generally
3
: one who gives names to or invents names for things

Examples of nomenclator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As Hawkins High's resident dungeon master — and Vecna's unwitting nomenclator — Eddie has some ideas. Nick Romano, EW.com, 14 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nomenclator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin nōmenclātor "book containing lists of names or words," going back to Latin nōmenclātor, nōmenculātor "slave tasked with telling his master the names of clients and others encountered publicly," from nōmen "name" + calāre "to announce, proclaim, summon" + -tor, agent suffix — more at name entry 1, low entry 3

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nomenclator was in 1585

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near nomenclator

Cite this Entry

“Nomenclator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nomenclator. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on nomenclator

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!