Forms: 4 compotyste, (5 competister, 6–7 compotist(e, 6– computist. [a. F. compotiste, computiste, med.L. compot-, computista, ‘artis computatoriæ magister,’ f. L. computus, F. comput: see next and -IST.]
1. One skilled in the computus or calendar, or (blending with 3) in chronological reckoning.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. iv. (Tollem. MS.). Compotystes … departeþ þo twelue mones, in sixe euen and sixe odde.
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 281. Golden, (as numerus in the almanack and calendare, by compotists).
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Computist, the same with Compotist.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 426. The Embolismal years … which according to most of the ancient Computists … were expressly declared to be thus inserted.
1699. Phil. Trans., XXI. 356. Rules, of which only are capable the skilful Computists or Astronomers.
1794. Mrs. Piozzi, Synon., I. 341. Chronology must descend to the computist for proofs.
1877. Bp. S. Butcher, Eccl. Calendar, 117. This anticipation of the Calendar Moon by the actual mean Moon was called by the Computists the προέμπτωσις of the Moon.
† 2. A keeper of accounts, an accountant. Obs.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., Ep. Ded. (1877), 5. As a straight computist, demaundeth interest and gaine of euery one of vs.
1651. Reliq. Wotton., 24. The Earl of Dorset, Lord Treasurer, who was a wise man and a strict Computist.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, I. III. 75. The Secretary, Clerk, and Computist of the Sacred Colledge.
3. One who performs the computations entering into astronomical and other problems.
1611. Cotgr., Computiste, a computist, a computatist; a reckoner, calculator, or counter.
1734. Berkeley, Analyst, § 33. You may pass for an artist, computist, or analyst, yet you may not be justly esteemed a man of science.
1867. Herschell, Fam. Lect. Sc. (1871), 138. Donati’s comet, if the computists are right, will return in 2100 years.
