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arterialis

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word arterialis

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
Ultimate origin
Latin artēria
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek ἀείρω (aeírō)
Ancient Greek ἀρτηρία (artēríā)
Latin artēria
English artery
Latin arteriālis
English arterial
From the same root
Ancient Greek μετέωρος (metéōros) ← ἀείρω

Forms

artēriālis (neuter artēriāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1][2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin artēria + -ālis.[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a medieval medical word,[1] found in Constantine the African for the vessel of the heart's right auricle, a vessel built like an artery.[2]

Semantic evolution

In anatomy the vena arterialis was a pulsing vessel;[2] Pseudo-Galen explains that this vein alone has two coats and is therefore called arterial, and Albertus Magnus also used the phrase for the windpipe.[2] Physicians distinguished sanguis arterialis, arterial blood, from venous blood.[2][4][3] British medical writers also spoke of an arterial epilepsy.[4] English arterial was taken from French.[5]

Timeline

  • before 1250 – Köbler, following Latham, dates its first records.[1]
  • early 15th century – English arterial is borrowed from French.[5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Like an artery, pulsing: vena arteriālis, a vessel with arterial structure; also the windpipe.[2][1]
  2. Arterial, in or of the arteries: sanguis arteriālis.[2][4][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  4. ^ a b c 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
  5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Arterialis.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/arterialis. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·