One who tends a collection with judgment — reviewing what is offered, publishing what is true, keeping notes on every ruling. Care for the commons, one decision at a time.
Latin curator (a guardian, one who cares for), from curare (to take care of), from cura (care, concern); one who tends a collection with judgment rather than merely storing it.
The Latin cura at its root is concern, not custody — a curator's authority comes from caring about a collection, not from owning it. The judgment is the job here; storage is only where that judgment happens to land.