Forms: 4 expositur, -pocitour, 4–6 -posytour, 4–7 -itour, 7 expositer, 6– expositor. [a. AF. *expositour OF. expositur, Fr. expositeur, ad. L. expositōr-em, agent-n. from expōnĕre: see EXPONE, EXPOSE.]
1. One who sets forth in detail, expounds, or lays open; a declarer, narrator. Const. of.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. lxxxviii. (1495), 89. Expositours say that some lyce gendre of sangweyn humour and ben red and grete.
c. 1430. Lydg., Thebes, I. 122. Some expositours Groundyng hem, vpon old aucthours, Sain that Cadmus [etc.].
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe, III. (1541), 52 b. The tongue, whiche is raysons exposytour.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 72. A mirth-mouing iest which his faire tongue (conceits expositor) Deliuers in … apt … words.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. III. viii. 440. The clergy acquiesced in the dictates of a learned queen, as delivered by the royal expositor.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., VI. xxix. 73. Edwards, Reid, Kant … were … expositors of the active powers of man.
2. One who sets forth the meaning (of a passage, word, etc.); one who explains; an interpreter (of dreams, etc.); an expounder. Const. of.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxlvi. 8. Thorgh expositurs ha redyis rayne of soft lare.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 145. Good expositours on þe Gospellis.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxvii. 348 (Add. MS.). Trew expositours, that is, discrete confessours or prelates.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., X. i. 177. Not to followe nor hearken to the expositors of dreames.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 330. The Hodgei, Emeri and Mulai the first are Expositors, the other Mendicants, eating their bread in idleness.
1657. T. Wall, Comm. Times, 29. The word … signifies both a company, and a Beast, say Expositors upon the text.
1778. Bp. R. Lowth, Isaiah, Notes (ed. 12), 362. Difficulties in which expositors are frequently engaged.
1833. S. Hoole, Discourses, ix. 109. By some learned expositors the Grecian philosophy has been blended with Christian Theology.
1850. Gladstone, Glean., V. xci. 227. If such be the view of the expositors of the law.
fig. 1692. South, 12 Serm., 337 (J.). The Sinner’s Conscience is … the best Expositor of the mind of God, under any Judgment or Affliction.
1845. Lewes, Bio. Hist. Philos., Anc. II. 216. Reason is the expositor of Faith.
b. transf. That which explains or interprets. (Sometimes used as title of a book.)
1530. Palsgr., Ep. 5. I have … added … a thirde boke, whiche is a … comment and exposytour unto my seconde.
1604. Hieron, Wks., I. 526. The scripture speaketh by the voyce of man, and so it is fitted and applied to be the expositer of it selfe by the industry of man.
1616. Bullokar (title), An English Expositor: Teaching the Interpretation of the hardest words vsed in our Language.
a. 1754. Fielding, Charac. Man, Wks. 1784, IX. 414. Actions are their own best expositors.
1760–2. Doddridge (title), The Family Expositor.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 497. The intention of the devisor expressed in his will was the best expositor … and disposer of his words.
