caries

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈka.ri.eːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkaː.ri.es]^[1]

Forms

cariēs f (genitive cariēī); fifth declension^[1]

Etymology

De Vaan derives it most simply from careō “to lack”, as “defect, state of defectiveness”, with the abstract suffix -iēs as in aciēs beside aceō.^[2][1] Earlier dictionaries connected Proto-Indo-European *ḱreh₂- (“to break”), as in Sanskrit शृणाति (śr̥ṇā́ti, “breaks”) and Ancient Greek κεραΐζω (keraḯzō, “to ravage”), but no other Latin word from that root is known.^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro, who complains of couches lost to rot and moths.^[2][3] Köbler dates it from Turpilius.^[5] Köbler dates Turpilius to the 2nd century BC and Varro 116–27 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a decaying or shrivelling, especially the dry rot of wood, as Vitruvius says some timbers are not harmed by worms or rot; it was also the change produced in wine by ageing, and concretely the rotten matter itself.^[3] Celsus used it in medicine of decay of the bones.^[6] Only the accusative and ablative singular are found besides the nominative.^[7]

It survives in Italian carie and French carie, and English caries was borrowed in the 1630s for disease of bone, later of the teeth.^[1][4]

Timeline

• 2nd century BC – Turpilius uses it.^[5]
• 116–27 BC – Varro speaks of couches lost to rot.^[3][5]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of rot in timber.^[3][5]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it in medicine.^[6][5]
• 1630s – English caries is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Decay, rot (especially of wood).^[3]
2. The change produced in wine by ageing.^[3]
3. Rotten matter.^[3]
4. (medicine) Decay of the bones, caries.^[6][8]

Word family

• carians
• cariōsus

Related words

• careō
• English caries

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ 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