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candelarius

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word candelarius

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
193–211 AD, Forma urbis Romae
Ultimate origin
Latin candēla
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin candeo
Latin candela
French chandelle
Latin candelarius
From the same root
English candid ← candeo
Latin candens ← candeo
Latin candesco ← candeo
Latin candor ← candeo
Latin candelabrum ← candela

Forms

candēlārius (feminine candēlāria, neuter candēlārium); first/second-declension adjective[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin candēla (“candle”) + -ārius.[3][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its only ancient record is on the marble plan of Rome, which names horrea candēlāria, storehouses for candles;[3][1] Köbler dates the plan to 193–211.[3][1]

Semantic evolution

It reappears in medieval Latin.[4][2] As an adjective it was used of the feast of the Virgin Mary when candles are blessed: an Italian charter of 1190 dates something to around the feast of Saint Mary candēlāria,[2] and Niermeyer and the Hungarian dictionary record the feminine for Candlemas.[4][5]

As a masculine noun it was a candle-maker or chandler, and in monasteries the monk who looked after the candles.[4][2][6] English records from 1270 onwards use it of chandlers: in 1283 London ordered the chandlers in Cheapside to move elsewhere in the city, and a Norwich court record of 1300 deals with an agreement among the chandlers that none would sell a pound of candles for less than another.[6] The neuter candēlārium was a lamp.[4]

Timeline

  • 193–211 AD – The marble plan of Rome names candle storehouses.[3][1]
  • 1190 – An Italian charter names the feast of Saint Mary candēlāria.[2]
  • 1270 – A Leicester record names a chandler.[6]
  • 1283 – The chandlers of Cheapside are ordered to move.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of or for candles: horrea candēlāria, candle storehouses.[3][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Maria candēlāria, festum candēlārium: Candlemas, the feast of the Purification.[2][4][5]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A chandler, candle-maker.[4][2][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A monk in charge of the candles.[4][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) candēlārium: a lamp.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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 c d e Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ a b Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  6. ^ a b c d e f 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
Cite this entry

“Candelarius.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/candelarius. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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