Talk:mactator

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Found while working on Appendix:Words found only in dictionaries. I was able to locate one use, which I have added to Citations:mactator. It is conceivable that there might be two more. -- Visviva 08:14, 17 September 2009 (UTC)Reply

It’s strange that such a regularly-formed agent noun would be difficult to attest given that its equivalent verb is still current (albeit rare, though not {{obsolete}}, as claimed by the OED) and its equivalent noun of action sees quite considerable use.
BTW, the OED gleaned approximately six hundred words from Henry Cockeram’s 1623 English Dictionary, so you may want to add Cockeram as a reference to verify in your compilation of that appendix. On that subject, please ensure that you include etymologies in the appendix, since that has been the historical reason for their persistence in lexicographical works. † ﴾^(u):Raifʻhār ^(t):Doremítzwr﴿ 13:59, 17 September 2009 (UTC)Reply

Yes, it looks like I would need to check their entries citing every dictionary through Johnson (Cockeram, Cole, Bailey, Phillips...) to get a semi-complete list. It's interesting work, but I am not quite sure I am equal to the task; so many shiny objects, so little time. ... I will add some room in the table for etymologies.

It is definitely true that someone who mactates would be called a mactator (or conceivably a mactater). But for whatever reason, there just isn't much call for such a word, it seems. -- Visviva 16:10, 17 September 2009 (UTC)Reply

If it’s something that comes about through your efforts, I’d be extremely interested to see the list of dictionaries the OED cites; I reckon it would be something worth including in the appendix’s preamble, too.
As for *(deprecated template usage) mactater, "matater" gets only two hits via G.B.S., both scannos of Latin words (mactatur and magister), whereas the plural, (deprecated template usage) mactaters, gets none; mactatrix and mactatrices are Latin only, whereas (deprecated template usage) mactatress doesn’t seem to exist. That’s not really surprising, given that mactator is so rare, and since -ate verbs very regularly forms agent nouns by the suffixation of -or, as is etymological. † ﴾^(u):Raifʻhār ^(t):Doremítzwr﴿ 19:00, 17 September 2009 (UTC)Reply

Since current use of mactate is almost exclusive to Christian theology, it makes sense that the focus would be on either the act of mactation, or on the patient of the act, usually one Mr JH Christ -- the mactatee, if you will. One wouldn't really expect his mactators to get much attention.

"Mactater" would indeed be hideous (or perhaps delicious, if it happened to be some sort of fast-food potato snack). Fortunately, it appears to be unattestable as well. -- Visviva 11:56, 18 September 2009 (UTC)Reply

Hmm, I dunno: the Jews sure got (and sometimes still get) a lot of stick for deicide in many Christian communities. Whatever the reason, it seems like this one will soon be relegated to the appendix of “zombie words”… † ﴾^(u):Raifʻhār ^(t):Doremítzwr﴿ 18:47, 18 September 2009 (UTC)Reply

RFV failed, entry deleted. Thanks for the research, folks. —Ruakh_TALK 00:40, 13 December 2009 (UTC)Reply