interlocutor

[in-ter-lok-yuh-ter]

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue.
the man in the middle of the line of performers in a minstrel troupe, who acts as the announcer and banters with the end men.
a person who questions; interrogator.

Origin of interlocutor

1505–15; < Latin interlocū-, variant stem of interloquī to speak between (inter- inter- + loquī to speak) + -tor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for interlocutor

Contemporary Examples

So Eugene already had a leg up—an interlocutor could explain away any failed communication.
The AI That Wasn’t: Why ‘Eugene Goostman’ Didn’t Pass the Turing Test
Elizabeth Lopatto
June 10, 2014
Or Andrew could be the novelist, the interlocutor the reader (and uncertain reviewer).
The Brain Man: What is E. L. Doctorow Up to?
Tom LeClair
January 13, 2014
They might also be unwilling to work with the interlocutor picked by the government to lead the talks.
Pakistan’s Drone Dilemma
Jahanzeb Aslam
May 30, 2013
It is what we say that really counts, and ATFP expresses the same message, no matter the language, medium or interlocutor.
We Need to Talk
Hussein Ibish
May 7, 2012
Who knows if my interlocutor spoke for the Saudi government.
The Revolt in Syria Could Easily Spread to Other Middle East Countries
Kenneth M. Pollack
January 31, 2012

Historical Examples

Ramiro looked at his interlocutor, as the mastiff may look at the lap dog.
The Shame of Motley
Raphael Sabatini
Our man was probably misinformed as to who their interlocutor was.
War from the Inside
Frederick L. (Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock
Almayer turned round and looked at his interlocutor steadily.
Almayer's Folly
Joseph Conrad
Alexander began looking at his interlocutor with surprise and annoyance.
A Hungarian Nabob
Maurus Jkai
The interlocutor was a stout Canadian and seemed gigantic to Jeanne.
A Little Girl in Old Detroit
Amanda Minnie Douglas

British Dictionary definitions for interlocutor

interlocutor

noun

a person who takes part in a conversation
Also called: middleman the man in the centre of a troupe of minstrels who engages the others in talk or acts as announcer
Scots law a decree by a judge

Derived Formsinterlocutress, interlocutrice or interlocutrix, fem n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for interlocutor

n.

1510s, agent noun from Latin interlocut-, past participle stem of interloqui "interrupt," from inter- "between" (see inter-) + loqui "to speak" (see locution). Related: Interlocutory.

interlocutor

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}interlocutor

Examples from the Web for interlocutor

Contemporary Examples

So Eugene already had a leg up—an interlocutor could explain away any failed communication.

Or Andrew could be the novelist, the interlocutor the reader (and uncertain reviewer).

They might also be unwilling to work with the interlocutor picked by the government to lead the talks.

It is what we say that really counts, and ATFP expresses the same message, no matter the language, medium or interlocutor.

Who knows if my interlocutor spoke for the Saudi government.

Historical Examples

Ramiro looked at his interlocutor, as the mastiff may look at the lap dog.

Our man was probably misinformed as to who their interlocutor was.

Almayer turned round and looked at his interlocutor steadily.

Alexander began looking at his interlocutor with surprise and annoyance.

The interlocutor was a stout Canadian and seemed gigantic to Jeanne.

interlocutor

Word Origin and History for interlocutor

n.

Origin of interlocutor