Also 4 -oure, (5 conpilour), 6 -or, Sc. -ar. [ME. (and AF.) compilour = OF. compileor, F. compileur:—L. compīlātōr-em (see COMPILATOR). Assimilated to words in -ER.]
1. One who compiles: see COMPILE v. 1, 2.
In modern use often opposed to an original author.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 26. No compiloure of him tellis ouht.
1549. Compl. Scot., Prol. (1872), 16. Diuerse translatours and compilaris.
1550. J. Coke, Eng. & Fr. Herald, § 36 (1877), 67. I, John Coke, compyler of this small treatyse.
1677. Hubbard, Narrative, Pref. The Compiler of an History can challenge little to himself but methodizing the work.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 184, ¶ 2. The compiler of a system of science.
1815. Scribbleomania, 200. The pond’rous compiler, with nought that is new.
1868. E. Edwards, Raleigh, I. ix. 133. Udall … was the compiler of the first Hebrew grammar known to have appeared in English.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 379. Appian, a mere compiler.
† 2. An (original) author, composer. Obs.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 319. The most conpilour … Flour of poyetis.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 36. Compylers of sencelesse sonets.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 234. This Booke … being burnt, to embleme the endlesse Punishment of the Compiler.
† 3. A constructor or builder: see COMPILE v. 6.
1713. Pope, Guardian, No. 4, ¶ 3. The Compilers of these sort of structures.
Hence Compilership. nonce-wd.
1867. Spectator, 14 Dec., 1423. The authorship or compilership of a dictionary … is, indeed, a question like that of the identity of the darned and redarned stockings with the original pair.
