Titus

Forms

Titus m (genitive Titī, feminine Tita); second declension^[1]

Etymology

The origin is unknown.^[2] Wiktionary compares Faliscan 𐌕𐌉𐌕𐌏 (tito), Umbrian 𐌕𐌉𐌕𐌉𐌔 (titis) and South Picene 𐌕𐌉𐌕𐌞𐌌 (titúm), and points out that its distribution, frequent in inscriptions from the former lands of the Umbrians and the Paeligni, suggests a foreign origin.^[1] The ancient author Julius Paris called it Sabine, which may connect it to the legendary Sabine king Titus Tatius;^[1] Georges likewise calls it a Sabine and Roman praenomen.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius names Titus Tatius, the Sabine king, in his Annals.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a common Roman praenomen, written in abbreviation as T.^[5][6][3] It was borne by the legendary Titus Tatius, linked with Romulus, and by the emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus (AD 79–81).^[5][4] In Christian Latin it is also the name of a disciple of Saint Paul, to whom one of the epistles of the New Testament is addressed.^[7][8]

In Medieval Latin the emperor's name stood for a model of generosity, and Titi could mean generous givers.^[9][2]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius names Titus Tatius.^[4][2]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero mentions Titus Tatius in his letters.^[4][2]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus names the emperor Titus in the Histories.^[4][2]

Meanings

Proper noun

1. A Roman praenomen, abbreviated T.^[5][6]
2. In particular Titus Tatius, a Sabine king associated with Romulus in legend.^[5][4]
3. In particular the emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus (AD 79–81).^[5][4]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Titus, a disciple of Saint Paul.^[7][8]
5. (Medieval Latin) A generous giver.^[2][9]

Usage notes

A separate noun titus meant a wood pigeon: Isidore of Seville has it,^[10] and a scholiast on Persius explains titi as wild doves.^[2] Köbler takes it as an imitative word.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e f g Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Jeanneau, Gérard; Woitrain, Jean-Paul; Hassid, Jean-Claude (2017), Dictionnaire latin-français, online ed., prima-elementa.fr
8. ^ a b Victionarium (Latin Wiktionary), la.wiktionary.org
9. ^ a b 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
10. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.