Etymologically
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caries

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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

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