Etymologically
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Romanus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [roːˈmaː.nʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [roˈmaː.nus][1]

Forms

Rōmānus (feminine Rōmāna, neuter Rōmānum, adverb rōmānē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin Rōma (“Rome”) + -ānus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler lists the Twelve Tables among its sources.[3] The OLD's earliest quotation is from Ennius' Annals, addressed to those who want “the Roman state and Latium to grow” (qui rem Romanam Latiumque augescere vultis).[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin the adjective meant belonging to Rome or its people,[2] and also characteristic of the Romans: Livy writes et facere et pati fortia Romanum est, “to act and to endure bravely is Roman”, and more Romano meant in the good old Roman way, plainly and directly.[2] As a noun the masculine meant a Roman, the plural the Roman people, nation or army, and the neuter plural Roman affairs.[2]

In medieval Latin it was used of the church of Rome and the Western Church, of coins and measures, in plant names and in the phrase for a journey to Rome.[4] Wiktionary also records the medieval senses “Christian, Catholic” and, as a noun, a Latin-speaking inhabitant of the Frankish kingdom.[1]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius speaks of the Roman state.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses Romanus as a noun, “a Roman”, beside Gallus.[2][3]
  • 59 BC–AD 17 – Livy uses it for what is typically Roman.[2][3]
  • 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it in a riddle: “once I was consul, a Roman knight”.[4][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of or belonging to Rome or its people; Roman.[2][5]
  2. Characteristic of the Romans, typically Roman.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Of the church of Rome; of the Western Church; Catholic.[4][1]

Noun

  1. A Roman;[2][3] (plural) the Romans, their people, nation or forces.[2][3]
  2. (neuter plural) Roman affairs.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A Latin-speaking inhabitant of the Frankish kingdom.[1]
  • Rōma
  • Rōmulus
  • English Roman

Usage notes

Rōmānus was also a man's name, borne by a 7th-century bishop of Rouen.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson