Donator

[Stephanagreg]

Hello,

Could I ask you what difference you would make between a "donator" and a "donor" (with the meaning :someone who gives money to a political party, for instance) ?

I would have thought "donator" occurred more frequently in American English (the reason for this being that I am basically more familiar with British English and not used to using "donator"), but a Google search seems to invalidate this.

Thanks for whatever help you might provide me with.

Stephan

 

[lizzeymac]

Hello,

Could I ask you what difference you would make between a "donator" and a "donor" (with the meaning :someone who gives money to a political party, for instance) ?

I would have thought "donator" occurred more frequently in American English (the reason for this being that I am basically more familiar with British English and am not used to using "donator"), but a Google search seems to invalidate this.

Thanks for whatever help you might provide me with.

Stephan

Hello -
I have never heard or seen "Donator" used in American English.
I have seen it on websites in French & German & Finnish & Swedish, or in the "English" translations of foreign language websites.
I am surprised to see that it is in the online Roget's Thesaurus 3rd ed. 1995 & American Heritage Dictionary - we don't use it.
If you look at the Google for "donator" again, you will see that almost all cites are from non-English sources.
"Donor" is used in AE.
Bye,

 

[emma42]

Hello, Stephana. Much to my surprise, my Chambers Dictionary does have "donator" as a synonym for "donor". However, I have never heard the word used. It is always "donor" in British English, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[suzi br]

Hello -
you will see that almost all cites are from non-English sources.

This is a good point, to remind us to be cautious when searching with Google; always look at the source of the example.

I agree, I would always use donor and never use donator yet I can see that donator seems more logical, adding the sufix to the verb stem "donate" or back forming from "donation".

 

[french4beth]

From thefreedictionary.com, 'donator' was listed as a legal term:

n. 1. (Law) One who makes a gift; a donor; a giver

From Merriam-Webster OnLine,

one that helps another with gifts or money < a frequequent donator of funds to research foundations > see benefactor

 

[lizzeymac]

This is a good point, to remind us to be cautious when searching with Google; always look at the source of the example.

I agree, I would always use donor and never use donator yet I can see that donator seems more logical, adding the sufix to the verb stem "donate" or back forming from "donation".

Perhaps this explains the formation -
donor
c.1439, from Anglo-Fr. donour, from O.Fr. doneur, from L. donatorem (nom. donator), from donare "give as a gift." Of blood, from 1910; of organs or tissues, from 1918.

 

[Stephanagreg]

Thanks a lot for that !