caerimonia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kae̯.rɪˈmoː.ni.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [t͡ʃe.riˈmɔː.ni.a]^[1]

Forms

caerimōnia f (genitive caerimōniae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

Its origin is uncertain.^[2][1] De Vaan derives it, with the suffix -mōnia of castimōnia and sānctimōnia, from an adjective *caerus “whole”, perhaps Proto-Italic *kair-, which also forms the second part of sincērus “whole, pure”.^[2] The Roman belief that it came from the Etruscan city of Caere is a folk etymology, according to de Vaan.^[2] The OLD and Köbler, following Walde and Hofmann, think it possibly Etruscan.^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Cicero, who speaks of the sanctity of an embassy betrayed by treachery.^[2][4][3] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was sacredness or sanctity, as of an embassy or of the gods.^[3][5] It then meant reverence for the gods shown in worship, and, usually in the plural, the rites and observances of a cult.^[3] Cicero defines religion as the care and worship (caerimōnia) of a higher nature.^[3]

Medieval writers used it of pagan, Jewish and Christian worship and festivals.^[6] Medieval Latin cēremōnia gave English ceremony in the late 14th century, and the word was borrowed in the same way into French cérémonie and Italian cerimonia.^[7][1]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the sanctity of an embassy.^[3][4]
• late 14th century – English ceremony is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Sacredness, sanctity.^[3]
2. Reverence (for the gods), worship.^[3]
3. (usually plural) Religious rites, ceremony.^[3]

Word family

• caerimōniālis
• caerimonior
• caerimoniosus
• caerimōnium

Related words

• sincērus
• English ceremony

Usage notes

Döderlein contrasts rītus, a hallowed observance taught by the gods or by nature, with caerimōnia, what is used in the worship of the gods.^[8] Spellings with cē- and cae- both occur.^[9][5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
9. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press