aerarium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ae̯ˈraː.ri.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈraː.ri.um]^[1]

Forms

aerārium n (genitive aerāriī or aerārī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of aerārius “of bronze, of money”, from aes “bronze, money”, with the suffix -ārium “place for”.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨aes⟩ to Proto-Italic *ajos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éyos (“bronze”).^[3] Isidore explains that bronze money was stored there before gold and silver were coined.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of the treasury in the temple of Saturn.^[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was the public treasury of Rome, kept in the temple of Saturn, which also held the state archives, as in Cato; any treasury or exchequer, with a sānctius aerārium, an inner reserve; and the funds in it, as in Cicero.^[2][6] Magistrates' accounts, census lists, laws and military standards were also deposited there.^[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant treasury.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for a treasury, glossed Old English māþmhūs, and figuratively.^[8] It survives in Italian erario and Spanish erario.^[1]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of funds.^[2][5]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains its name.^[4][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. The public treasury of Rome in the temple of Saturn; any treasury, exchequer.^[2]
2. The funds of the treasury.^[2]

Related words

• aes
• aerārius
• fiscus

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b 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. ^ 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