Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Designator

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

DESIGNA'TOR. A person employed at the theatre in a capacity something like that of our box or stall-keeper, whose business it was to point out, and conduct the company to their proper places. (Plaut. Poen. Prol. 19.) Every seat was numbered, the space allotted to each being marked out by a line (linea) drawn on each side of it, and the billet of admission (tessera theatralis) specified the number of the seat which the holder was entitled to occupy, which was shown to him by the designator when he entered the theatre.

2. An undertaker; who made all the arrangements for a funeral, and directed the procession, at the head of which he walked, attended by lictors clothed in black. Hor. Ep. i. 7. 6. Donat. ad Terent. Adelph. i. 2. 7. Seneca, Benef. vi. 38.

3. A sort of clerk of the course at the Circensian games; who made the arrangements for each race, and distributed the prizes. Ulp. Dig. 3. 2. 4.  — Cic. Att. iv. 3. 2. probably applies to this class.