conservator

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tor kən-ˈsər-və-tər 

-və-ˌtȯr;

ˈkän(t)-sər-ˌvā-tər

1

a

: one that preserves from injury or violation : protector

b

: one that is responsible for the care, restoration, and repair of archival or museum articles

2

: a person, official, or institution designated to take over and protect the interests of an incompetent

3

: an official charged with the protection of something affecting public welfare and interests

conservatorial

kən-ˌsər-və-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

(ˌ)kän-

adjective

conservatorship

kən-ˈsər-və-tər-ˌship 

-və-ˌtȯr-;

ˈkän(t)-sər-ˌvā-tər-

noun

Examples of conservator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the authentication process, paper conservators confirmed that the paper and ink were consistent with what Chopin would have used at the time. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

But while the rest of her trekking group joins the cacophony below, the veteran archaeologist and art conservator who has put dirt to shovel in places like Oman, Greece, and Turkey steadies a pen over her binder. —Joe Sills, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Moments later, Maw’s attorney, Juan Dotson, said his client would end his bid to be LaDonna’s conservator. —Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024

These efforts include two new staff positions, namely, a curator and a conservator; Claire Howard was already appointed the inaugural Hansjörg Wyss Curator of Modern Art earlier this year. —Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conservatour "legal custodian, protector, guardian," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French conservatour, conservator, borrowed from Latin conservātōr-, conservātor "one who preserves, savior" (Medieval Latin, "official custodian, keeper"), from conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve" + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Legal Definition

conservator

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tor kən-ˈsər-və-tər, ˈkän-sər-ˌvā- 

1

: a person, official, or institution appointed by a court to take over and manage the estate of an incompetent compare committee, curator, guardian, receiver, tutor

2

: a public official charged with the protection of something affecting public welfare and interests

specifically : an official placed in charge of a bank because its affairs are not in a satisfactory condition

conservatorship noun