aedificium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ae̯.dɪˈfɪ.ki.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [e.diˈfiː.t͡ʃi.um]^[1]

Forms

aedificium n (genitive aedificiī or aedificī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin aedificō (“to build”) + -ium.^[2][1] The verb is formed from aedēs “dwelling” with -ficō, from faciō “to make”.^[2][1] Aedēs is *aiþ- (“fireplace”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)idh- (“burning”), and first meant the fireplace, then the room with a fireplace.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero (81–43 BC).^[4] Cicero writes of building on another man's land.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a building of any kind, even one not fit to live in, while aedes was a dwelling.^[6] Livy writes of aedes aedificiaque, houses and other buildings, and Cicero of public and private, sacred and profane buildings.^[6][5]

In medieval Latin it also meant a church building, a barn, a stall or a fortification.^[4] English edifice came from it through Old French in the late 14th century.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of public and private buildings.^[5][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy pairs aedes and aedificia.^[6][4]
• late 14th century – English edifice is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A building, edifice, structure.^[2][1]

Word family

• aedificialis
• aedificiolum
• superaedificium

Related words

• aedes
• English edifice

Usage notes

Döderlein says aedificium is the general term for buildings of all kinds, while domus and aedes mean a dwelling-house.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper