Also compa-, compi-, compo-, compendor(e. [a. Pg. comprador buyer:—late L. comparātōr-em, agent-n. f. comparāre to provide, purchase (in Pg. comprar to purchase, buy), f. com- together + parāre to furnish. One of the Portuguese words adopted in the East.]
† 1. Formerly, the name of a native servant employed by Europeans, in India and the East, to purchase necessaries and keep the household accounts: a house-steward. Obs. in India.
1615. R. Cocks, Diary, Japan (1883), I. 19 (Y.). The Hollanders … thrust their comprador (or cats buyer) out of dores for a lecherous knave.
1711. C. Lockyer, Trade in India, 108. Every Factory had formerly a Compradore, whose Business it was to buy in Provisions and other Necessarys.
1773. E. Ives, Voy., 50 (Y.). Compidore, the office of this servant is to go to market and bring home small things, such as fruit, etc.
1789. I. Munro, Narrative, 27 (Y.). A Cook at 3, a Compradore at 2, and Kitchen-boy at 1 pagoda.
1810. Williamson, E. India Vade-m., I. 270 (Y.). The Compadore … acts as purveyor.
2. Now, in China, the name of the principal native servant, employed in European establishments, and especially in houses of business, both as head of the staff of native employés, and as intermediary between the house and its native customers. (The Chinese name is mâi-pan ‘purveyor.’)
1840. Mountain, in Mem. (1857), viii. 173. About ten days ago, however, the Chinese, having kidnapped our Compendor, parties were sent out to endeavour to recover him.
1865. Daily Tel., 14 Nov., 3/6. The water-thieves have friends among the compradors of Hong Kong and Shanghai.
1880. Miss Bird, Japan, I. 46. Each firm has its Chinese compradore, a factotum, middleman, and occasionally a tyrant.
