exponent

 
Pronunciation: /ɪkˈspəʊnənt, ɛk-/

noun

  • 1a person who supports an idea or theory and tries to persuade people of its truth or benefits: an early exponent of the teachings of Thomas Aquinas
  • a person who demonstrates a particular skill to a high standard: he’s the world’s leading exponent of country rock guitar
  • 2 Mathematics a quantity representing the power to which a given number or expression is to be raised, usually expressed as a raised symbol beside the number or expression (e.g. 3 in 23 = 2 × 2 × 2).
  • 3 Linguistics a linguistic unit that realizes another, more abstract unit.

Origin:

late 16th century (as an adjective in the sense 'expounding'): from Latin exponent- 'putting out', from the verb exponere (see expound)