Datorum

Datorum is the genitive plural form of the Latin noun dator, meaning donor or giver. In classical Latin, dator denotes a person who gives, often a patron or benefactor. Dator is a masculine noun of the third declension; its genitive singular is datoris and its genitive plural is datorum, which translates as “of the donors” or “the donors’.”

Etymology and form: dator derives from the verb dare, “to give,” with the agentive suffix -tor. As a third-declension noun, dator follows the common pattern that yields a genitive plural form datorum. The form datorum functions to indicate possession or association with multiple donors in a sentence, such as phrases meaning “the donors’ gifts” or “the names of the donors,” depending on the surrounding noun and case.

Usage: Datorum is primarily encountered in Latin inscriptions, dedications, legal or historical texts, and philological writings. It marks possession by more than one donor and is often seen in constructions that attribute gifts, endowments, or support to benefactors. In modern discussions of Latin grammar, datorum is cited as an exemplar of genitive plural formation and of donor terminology in classical sources.

Modern relevance: Today, datorum is of interest mainly to linguists, classicists, and students of Latin as a grammatical form and as a window into how donors and benefactors were described in Latin literature and public inscriptions. It does not represent a distinct concept beyond its grammatical function in Latin.