investigator
UK: ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪtə | US: ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪtər
n. a person who investigates, especially one whose job is to uncover facts or gather evidence
n. (law) an officer who examines crimes or disputes
investigator = in<into> + vestig<track> + ator<agent suffix>
- in (Latin: "into") → Indicates direction or focus.
- vestig (Latin: "track, footprint") → Refers to tracing or following evidence.
- ator (Latin agent suffix: "-ator") → Denotes a person who performs an action.
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin investigare ("to track, trace"), combining in- (into) + vestigium (footprint, track). The word evolved through Old French investigateur into English, retaining its core meaning of "one who follows traces to uncover truth." The suffix -ator (from Latin -ator) consistently marks agent nouns, reinforcing the role of the investigator as an active seeker of information.
The police investigator carefully examined the crime scene for clues.
She worked as a private investigator, specializing in corporate fraud cases.
The scientific investigator published groundbreaking research on climate change.
The committee appointed an independent investigator to review the allegations.
As a seasoned investigator, he knew how to piece together fragmented evidence.