Etymologically
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aedes

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈae̯.deːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.des][1]

Forms

aedēs f (genitive aedis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *aiþ- (“fireplace”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)idʰ- (“burning”).[2] Cognate with Old Irish áed (“fire”), Ancient Greek αἴθω (aíthō, “to burn”), Old English ād (“pyre”) and Old High German eit (“pyre”).[2][3] De Vaan explains that it first meant the fireplace, then the room with a fireplace, then a small one-room temple, while the plural meant a house.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from the Twelve Tables and Livius Andronicus.[2] The Twelve Tables speak of a beam fixed to a house.[3] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In the singular it was a temple or shrine, and in the plural a dwelling or house; it was also used of a tomb.[3] Döderlein contrasts aedēs, the temple building alone, with templum, the temple with its sacred grounds, and in the sense “house” with domus, the home of a family.[5] The Appendix Probi prefers the nominative aedēs to aedis, though aedis is more common in Cicero and Varro.[6][7]

In medieval Latin it could mean a church or chapel, a bishop's see, and in British usage an academic hall.[8][9] Its derivatives include aedīlis “aedile”, the magistrate in charge of temples and public buildings, and aedificō “to build”, whence aedificium and English edifice.[10]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – the Twelve Tables use it of a house.[3][4]
  • before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the temple of Castor.[11][4]
  • late 14th century – English edifice is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (singular) A temple, shrine.[3]
  2. (plural) A dwelling, house.[3]
  3. A tomb.[3]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A church, chapel; an academic hall.[9]

Word family

  • aeditumus

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Appendix Probi, a late antique list of correct and censured Latin word forms ("calida non calda"); ed. H. Keil, Grammatici Latini IV, Leipzig 1864, 197–199.
  7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  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. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  11. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.