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academia

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [a.ka.deːˈmiː.a], [a.kaˈdeː.mi.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [a.ka.deˈmiː.a], [a.kaˈdɛː.mi.a][1]

Forms

acadēmī̆a f (genitive acadēmī̆ae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀκαδήμεια (Akadḗmeia), a variant of ⟨Ἀκαδημία⟩, the gymnasium named after the hero Akademos.[1][2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero uses it of Plato's gymnasium.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant the gymnasium near Athens where Plato and his successors taught, and in Cicero the school of philosophy Plato founded, its members and views, the Old and the New Academy.[5][6] In Cicero it also meant a gymnasium he built on one of his estates and his own exposition of the Academic views, the Academica.[5] In Quintilian it meant the dialectical training of the Academy.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant an academy or college.[7] In British Medieval Latin it meant a university, as Oxford in 1421.[8] English academy came in the mid-15th century, of Plato's Academy, and English academia in 1956, of the academic community.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of Plato's gymnasium and school.[5][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of the Academy's dialectic.[5][4]
  • 1421 – British Medieval Latin uses it of a university.[8]
  • mid-15th century – English academy is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The Academy, Plato's gymnasium at Athens.[5]
  2. The Academic school of philosophy.[5]
  3. Cicero's gymnasium; his Academica.[5]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A university.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ 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