cardo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkar.doː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkar.do]^[1]

Forms

cardō m (genitive cardinis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

The etymology is uncertain.^[2][1] De Vaan lists similar Germanic words for a hinge, such as Old English heorra (“hinge”) and Old High German scerdo (“hinge”), but they cannot be derived from one form with Latin.^[2] The traditional comparison with Ancient Greek κράδη (krádē, “twig; swing”) is considered unlikely because the shared sense of swinging is metaphorical and probably late.^[1][3][4] Isidore links it to Ancient Greek καρδία (kardía, “heart”), because the hinge moves the whole door as the heart moves the whole man.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^[2] Cato uses it of the pivot of an oil press.^[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant a pivot on which something turns, especially a door hinge, a tenon or mortise, and the poles of the heavens.^[3][7] It was also any of the four cardinal points, a region, and a turning point or critical moment, as in Virgil's tantō cardine rērum.^[3] In surveying the cardō was the base line running north to south, and generally a limit or boundary.^[3]

In medieval Latin, clerics in cardine were those privileged to assist the pope or a bishop, and it was also a threshold or beginning.^[8][9] From the adjective cardinālis “principal”, literally “of a hinge”, come English cardinal, first the churchman and then “chief”.^[10] French charnière “hinge” also goes back to it.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][6]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a pivot.^[3][6]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of a creaking hinge and a turning point of affairs.^[7][3][6]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore links it to the Greek word for heart.^[5][6]
• early 12th century – English cardinal (the churchman) is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A hinge, pivot.^[3][7]
2. A tenon; a mortise.^[3]
3. A pole of the heavens.^[3]
4. A cardinal point; a region.^[3]
5. A turning point, critical moment.^[3]
6. (surveying) A north–south base line; a limit.^[3]
7. (Medieval Latin) A threshold, beginning.^[9]

Word family

• cardinālis
• cardinātus
• cardineus

Related words

• English cardinal

Usage notes

A late homograph cardō (genitive cardōnis) “thistle”, a by-form of carduus, is the source of English cardoon.^[1][10]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ 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
10. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com