Etymologically
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владꙑка

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Pronunciation

  • /vɫɑ.ˈd̪ɨ.kɑ/[1]

Forms

владꙑка (vladyka) m, a-stem[1]

  • The manuscripts often abbreviate it under a titlo (вл҃ка, вл҃дка), especially the Euchologium Sinaiticum; the Clozianus once writes владъка.[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *voldyka (“ruler”), a noun of the root of владѣти (“to rule”), from *volděti (“to rule”).[3][1][4] Vasmer explains the Proto-Slavic noun as an n-stem extended with a k-suffix, and dismisses Stender-Petersen's derivation from a Germanic word as needless;[3][1] Wiktionary analyses it as the verb with the agent suffix -икъ.[3][1] The same word is Czech vladyka, and Vasmer compares the name Walducus, borne by a ruler of the Wends in Pannonia in Fredegar's chronicle.[3]

The verb is cognate with Lithuanian valdýti (“to rule, to govern”), Latvian vàldît and Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌳𐌰𐌽 (waldan, “to rule”), and Sadnik and Aitzetmüller further compare Latin valeō (“to be strong”).[5][4][1] Wiktionary derives it through Proto-Balto-Slavic *walˀdā́ˀtei from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁dʰh₁-, a root *h₂welh₁- (“to rule”) with a suffix that Derksen thinks became part of the root.[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Gospels it translates Ancient Greek ἡγεμών (hēgemṓn, “governor, leader”) and ἐξουσία (exousía, “authority”): прѣдъ владꙑкꙑ же и цѣсарѧ ведени бѫдете мене ради “you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake” (Mt 10, 18 Zogr Mar As Vat), and the centurion says азъ человѣкъ есмь подъ владꙑкоѭ “I am a man under authority” (Mt 8, 9 Zogr Mar As).[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Its usual Greek counterpart is Ancient Greek δεσπότης (despótēs, “master”), which Vasmer takes as the model of its use.[6][3] In the Euchologium Sinaiticum it is the common address to God, владꙑко господи боже, usually abbreviated.[2] The SJS also records it as a title of secular rulers and of church dignitaries, as in the Lives of Constantine and Methodius (аще велиши, владꙑко, Const 8), as a word for the authorities or power (for ἐξουσία, R 13, 1), and as the name of one of the angelic orders (C 1, 16).[6]

Miklosich already finds it for an archbishop in later Church Slavonic, and Russian влады́ка, a borrowing from Church Slavonic, means a bishop or archbishop of the Orthodox Church.[7][3] Wiktionary gives the sense “bishop” for Church Slavonic, and the word passed on to Bulgarian влади́ка (vladíka), Serbo-Croatian vlàdika and Romanian vlădică.[1][7]

Timeline

  • End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – the Euchologium Sinaiticum uses владꙑка for δεσπότης.[8]
  • 14th century – the Athonite Serbian translation of Gregory of Nyssa uses it for δεσπότης.[8]
  • Until the beginning of the 15th century – a Serbian translation from the Rila monastery uses it for δεσπότης and ἡγεμών.[8]
  • 1882–1885 – Giltebrandt lists its New Testament uses for ἡγεμών, δεσπότης, οἰκοδεσπότης and ἐξουσία.[9]

Meanings

Noun

  1. ruler, sovereign, lord, master; often of God; for δεσπότης, ἡγεμών, ἄρχων.[6][2][1]
  2. A title of secular lords and of church dignitaries; for δεσπότης.[6]
  3. In the singular or plural, the authorities, power; for ἐξουσία.[6][2]
  4. (theology) One of the orders of angels, the Powers; for ἐξουσίαι.[6]
  5. (Church Slavonic) A bishop.[1][7]

Word family

  • вьсевладꙑка
  • владꙑчица
  • владꙑчьнь
  • владꙑчьскъ
  • владꙑчьство
  • владѣти
  • власть
  • властель
  • обладати
  • область
  • Russian владыка (vladyka)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Slovník nejstarších staroslověnských památek (digital ed., Gorazd, Slovanský ústav AV ČR, gorazd.org); cf. Cejtlin, R. M.; Večerka, R.; Blagova, É. (eds.) (1994), Staroslavjanskij slovar' (po rukopisjam X–XI vekov), Moskva: Russkij jazyk
  3. ^ a b c d e f Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 1, 327
  4. ^ a b c Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill
  5. ^ Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 332
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Kurz, Josef; Hauptová, Zoe (eds.) (1958–1997), Slovník jazyka staroslověnského / Lexicon linguae palaeoslovenicae, 4 vols. + supplements, Praha: Academia; digital ed. gorazd.org
  7. ^ a b c Miklosich, Franz (1862–1865), Lexicon palaeoslovenico-graeco-latinum emendatum auctum, Vindobonae: Braumüller
  8. ^ a b c SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de
  9. ^ Gil'tebrandt, P. A. (1882–1885), Spravočnyj i ob''jasnitel'nyj slovar' k Novomu Zavetu, 6 vols., Sankt-Peterburg