interpreter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   someone who uses art to represent something

   The paintings show the artist to be a sensitive interpreter of nature.

2. 2
   noun

   A person or thing that interprets the meaning of something for another, particularly

   ... an interpreter of dreams ...

3. 3
   noun

   (computer science) a program that translates and executes source language statements one line at a time

4. 4
   noun

   someone who mediates between speakers of different languages

5. 5
   noun

   an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose

Etymology

From Middle English interpreter, interpretour, etc., from Old French interpreteur, interpreteeur, etc., from Late Latin interpretātōr, from classical Latin interpretātus (“explained, translated”) + -or (“-er: forming agent nouns”), from interpretārī (“to explain, to translate”), from interpres (“go-between, translator”) + -ārī (“to be ~ed”), q.v. In reference to divine emissaries, a calque of Mercury's Latin epithet interpres divum (“go-between of the gods”). In reference to the rhetorical device, a calque of Latin interpretatio. Equivalent to interpret + -er. Displaced native Old English weal…