contractor
kənˈtræktər
noun
Origin
Latin
contractus — drawn together, restricted, or settled by agreement
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job.
- A person who agrees to supply goods or services for a specified price.
Literal older meaning
one who draws together
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
contractour
Earliest period
15. yüzyıl
Journey
The term evolved from the Latin 'contrahere', describing the act of drawing parties together into a mutual agreement. In the medieval period, it became a legal title for those formally bound by such agreements, later specializing in the modern era to describe independent service providers.
Evolution
- Latin
contrahere
“to draw together, unite, or enter into an agreement”
From 'com-' (together) + 'trahere' (to pull/draw).
- Old French
contracter
“to enter into a contract”
- Middle English
contractour
“one who enters into a formal agreement”
Used in legal and mercantile contexts.
- Modern English
contractor
“a person providing labor or materials by agreement”
Generalization of the term to include construction and trade industries.
Connections
Word parts
contract
root
agreement
or
suffix
one who performs an action
Related across languages
French
contracteur
contractor
Spanish
contratista
contractor
Related words
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Related to contractor
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.