Re: "raptor"

[João Simões Lopes Filho <jodan99@uol.com.br>]

I think Rapator came from rapere with an arbitrary suffix -ator
(etymologically wrong).
The Dinosaur Encyclopedia, of Lessem & Glut, explains RAPATOR as "Latin
rapere=to seize + Latin suffix -ator = one perfoming". This statemente is
wrong, because suffix -ator must only be used for verbs endin in -are.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jarno Peschier <JarnoP@ccs.nl>
To: <NJPharris@aol.com>
Cc: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2000 3:57 AM
Subject: RE: "raptor"


> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: NJPharris@aol.com [mailto:NJPharris@aol.com]
> > Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2000 12:47 AM
> > To: dinosaur@usc.edu
> > Subject: Re: "raptor"
> >
> > > And rapator (for Rapator ornitholestoides)?
> >
> > I would guess that the namers had the same root in mind, but the term
> > "rapator" does not actually occur in Latin, as far as I know.
>
> It could be an altogether different verb ("rapare" instead of "rapere"
with
> the short middle E). I don't have Latin dictionary with me at work, so I
> can't check if there is such a verb (rapo, rapare, rapatus?) and what its
> meaning would be...
>
> Met vriendelijke groeten,
> Jarno Peschier, dinosaur@jarno.demon.nl/jarnop@ccs.nl
>