Origin and history of tutor

late 14c., in law, "a guardian of a boy or girl to protect interest and personal development," from Old French tuteor "guardian, private teacher" (13c., Modern French tuteur), from Latin tutorem (nominative tutor) "guardian, watcher," from tutus, variant past participle of tueri "watch over, look at," a word of uncertain origin.

Also from late 14c. as "one who has the care or instruction of another in learning or one of its branches, private instructor." The specific English university sense of "senior boy appointed to help a junior in his studies" is recorded from 1680s.

De Vaan suggests the sense evolution in Latin is from "to protect," and suggests connection with Sanskrit tavas- "strong, powerful," Greek sōs "safe, safe and sound, healthy," from a root meaning "to be strong."

Related: Tutorage, tutorship. Fem. form tutoress is attested from 1610s, tutress 1590s; in Latin form tutrix from 1510s; Caxton has tutrice (late 15c.).

"have guardianship or care of; act as a tutor to, instruct, teach," 1590s, from tutor (n.). Related: Tutored; tutoring.