aequum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈae̯.kũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.kʷum]^[1]

Forms

aequum n (genitive aequī); second declension^[1] Also spelled aecum, in Ennius, Livy and Seneca.^[2]

Etymology

It is the neuter of aequus “level, equal, fair”, used as a noun.^[2][1] De Vaan finds no convincing etymology for ⟨aequus⟩, probably from ⟨*aikwos⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of what is fair.^[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant level ground, as in Tacitus; an equal footing, equal terms, as in Livy, and ex aequō “on equal terms”; and what is right, fair or equitable, equity as opposed to strict law (iūs), as in Ennius, Terence and Cicero.^[2][5]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of fairness.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of equal terms.^[2][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of level ground.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Level ground.^[2]
2. An equal footing, equal terms.^[2]
3. What is right or fair; equity.^[2]

Word family

• aequālis

Related words

• aequē
• aequō
• aequor
• aequus
• aequitās
• inīquum

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.