nominator
UK[ˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪ.tər]US[ˈnɑː.mə.neɪ.t̬ɚ]
n
A person who formally proposes or puts forward a candidate for an election or appointment.
n
(Mathematics) The number or expression written above the line in a common fraction; the dividend in a division.
Morpheme Breakdown
nomin
ator
nomin
name
ator
agent suffix
Etymology
The word nominator is built directly upon the Latin verb nominare, meaning 'to name'. This verb itself derives from nomen, the Latin word for 'name', which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root h₁nómn̥. The suffix -ator is a productive agentive ending in Latin, equivalent to English '-er', used to form nouns denoting the performer of an action. Therefore, a nominator is, in its original and primary sense, 'one who names' a candidate. The mathematical sense, referring to the top number in a fraction, is a later, specialized application of this naming concept, where it 'names' the number of parts being considered.
Analysis
Structure: nomin (name) + ator (agent suffix)
nomin: From Latin nomen (name). It functions as the core root conveying the concept of naming or designation.
ator: A Latin agent noun suffix (-ator), indicating a person or thing that performs the action of the verb (here, to nominate).
Examples
The nominator must be a registered member of the association.
She served as the nominator for three new board members this year.
In the fraction 3/4, the number 3 is the nominator.