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alimentum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word alimentum

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Lucretius
Ultimate origin
Latin (alō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [a.lɪˈmɛn.tũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [a.liˈmɛn.tum][1]

Forms

alimentum n (genitive alimentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from alō “to nourish” with the suffix -mentum.[2][1][3] A spelling ⟨alumentum⟩ also occurs.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Lucretius, of food.[2] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant food, nutriment, provisions, as Cicero's food of the body and Curtius' supplies for three days, also for plants, as in Columella.[2][5] In the plural it meant sustenance, a livelihood, the cost of maintenance, and alms, as in Seneca.[2] It meant fuel for a fire, as in Livy, and figuratively anything that feeds passions or beliefs, as in Propertius.[2] Lewis and Short note the poets use only the plural.[6] Döderlein says alimenta are victuals for an individual's needs, pēnus stores for a household.[7]

In Medieval Latin it meant the estates of a church set aside for the clergy's keep.[8] It survives in French aliment, Italian and Spanish alimento.[1] English aliment came in the late 15th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of food.[2][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of fuel.[2][4]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of alms.[2][4]
  • late 15th century – English aliment is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Food, nourishment.[2]
  2. (plural) Sustenance, maintenance; alms.[2]
  3. Fuel (of fire).[2]
  4. (figurative) Food, encouragement.[2]

Word family

  • alimentārius

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University 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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
Cite this entry

“Alimentum.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/alimentum. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·