alipores

== Tagalog == === Alternative forms === alipures alipuris ulipores === 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, alipunya Near-synonym: tagasunod ==== See also ==== === Further reading === “alipores”, in KWF Diksiyonaryo ng Wikang Filipino, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2025 “alipores”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018 “Lexicografía Manilense”, in La Oceania Española‎[1] (in Spanish), 11 December 1887