calumniatrix

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ka.ɫʊm.niˈaː.triːks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ka.lum.niˈaː.triks]^[1]

Forms

calumniātrīx f (genitive calumniātrīcis, masculine calumniātor); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin calumnior (“to accuse falsely”) + -trīx, the feminine of calumniātor.^[2][3][1] ⟨calumnia⟩ is from ⟨*kalwomnia⟩, from calvor (“to deceive”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *kalwe/o-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂l-u- or, with the LIV, ⟨*ḱlh₁-u-⟩ “to call”.^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot cites Ulpian in the Digest, and Köbler Jerome.^[6][7] Köbler dates Ulpian before 223 AD.^[7]

Semantic evolution

It meant a woman who makes false accusations or claims, who plots against someone.^[2][3]

Timeline

• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it.^[6][7]
• c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it.^[3][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A female false accuser or claimant.^[2]

Related words

• calumniator
• calumnia

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de