Valuators

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person or entity that assesses the monetary worth of assets or properties
2. an individual who determines the value of items through inspection or analysis
3. a professional specialized in establishing market pricing for various goods and services

Etymology: The plural "valuators" is simply the regular form of "valuator," so the story is really the story of its parts. "Valuator" was built in English by adding the suffix "-or," which marks a person or thing that performs an action, to the verb "valuate." That verb is itself a formation: "value" with the suffix "-ate," an ending that turns a noun into a verb meaning to perform an action on it. The "-or" suffix passed into English from Latin, through Old French, and it has been attached to English verbs ever since, as in "editor" or "governor." Taken together, a valuator is one who valuates, that is, one who sets a worth on something, usually property. The term is used mainly in technical and legal contexts, where it names the person who assigns that worth.

Synonyms: assessors, evaluators, appraisers, judges, examiners