Etymologically
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auditorium

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 16:03. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [au̯.diːˈtoː.ri.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [au̯.diˈtɔː.ri.um][1]

Forms

audītōrium n (genitive audītōriī or audītōrī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of audītōrius “of hearing”, from audiō “to hear”, with the suffix -tōrium, “a place for hearing”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Seneca, of a lecture hall.[2] Köbler's first source is Quintilian; he dates Seneca 4 BC–65 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a lecture room, hall, as in Seneca, and in Quintilian a body of listeners, an audience.[2] In Ulpian it was the hearing of a case.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a hearing, examination, lecture room.[5] Medieval Latin used it for a hall of justice, a monastery parlour, and a lecture room in an abbey.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for a lecture hall and a monastic parlour.[7] It was borrowed into Italian auditorio and French auditoire, and English auditorium is recorded from 1727.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a lecture hall.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of an audience.[2][4]
  • 1727 – English auditorium is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A lecture hall, auditorium.[2]
  2. An audience.[2]
  3. (law) The hearing of a case.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A monastery parlour.[6][7]

Word family

  • audītōriālis

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 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b 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