alipores

Tagalog

Alternative forms

Etymology

Possibly from Spanish alifures, plural of alifur (“unpaid court aide under a recording clerk”), as seen in 19th century Spanish publications in the Philippines. The Spanish term in turn came from Aragonese Spanish alifara (“meal as part of a business deal”), from Andalusian Arabic الإِحَالَة (al-ʕiḥála), from Arabic إِحَالَة (ʔiḥāla, “transfer”). See also Arabic عَلَف (ʕalaf, “fodder; grass”).

In old Aragonese legal tradition, completing a transaction was marked by the buyer offering a meal to the seller, recorded in writing with the phrase dióse la alifara (literally “the alifara was given”). Although this custom was not practiced in the Philippines, the alifures may have come to represent the receiving end of a different kind of transaction.

These court aides, officially unpaid, were known for meddling in legal affairs. With no formal salary, their involvement suggests they were compensated through unofficial means. While they were not offered a meal as in the Aragonese tradition, they were likely compensated through bribes to act in service of those who paid them discreetly. Over time, this role as unofficial agents may have caused the term to shift toward its modern meaning.

Alternatively, according to Diksiyonaryo Filipino, it may also possibly came from Spanish porrista (“cheerleader; follower; supporter”). Likely unrelated to the Alifuru people.

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ʔaliˈpoɾes/ [ʔɐ.lɪˈpoː.ɾɛs]
Rhymes: -oɾes
Syllabification: a‧li‧po‧res

Noun

alipores (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜎᜒᜉᜓᜇᜒᜐ᜔)

minion; henchperson; lackey; blind follower
Synonyms: tauhan, tuta, papet, bata

Near-synonym: tagasunod
- 1969, Liwayway:
  MAAARING MATUNTON NATIN SI PETE SA PAMAMAGITAN NG IBA SA KANYANG MGA ALIPORES...MABILIS NA GUMALAW ANG MAGKASAMA .
  WE MAY BE ABLE TO TRACK PETE THROUGH HIS OTHER LACKEYS...THE GROUP MOVED QUICKLY.

Tagalog

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

See also

Further reading