catena

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kaˈteː.na]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kaˈtɛː.na]^[1]

Forms

catēna f (genitive catēnae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It may be inherited from Proto-Italic *kates-nā-, from a stem *kat-es- also seen in caterva “crowd”.^[2][1] Wiktionary adds cassis “hunting net”, and reports Pokorny's root Proto-Indo-European *kat- (“to link, weave together”).^[1][3] The Oxford Latin Dictionary calls it doubtful.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus speaks of putting single chains on prisoners.^[4][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a chain, as Caesar's anchors held by iron chains instead of ropes, a bond or brace holding beams together, in Cato and Vitruvius, and in the plural chains or fetters.^[4][6] Figuratively it was the bond of love, and in Manilius and later writers a chain of causes.^[4] Döderlein says vinculum is any band and catēna a chain, for fettering or other uses.^[7]

In medieval Latin it was a chain for animals, prisoners, hanging criminals and chaining books, and figuratively a bond or link.^[8][9] Proto-Romance */kaˈten-a/ “chain” is continued in all branches of Romance.^[10] It survives as Italian catena, French chaîne and Spanish cadena.^[1][11]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of fetters.^[4][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a brace in building.^[4][5]
• c. 1300 – English chain is recorded, from Old French chaeine.^[11]
• 1872 – English catenary is recorded, from catēnārius.^[11]

Meanings

Noun

1. A chain.^[4][6]
2. A bond, brace (holding beams).^[4][6]
3. In the plural, chains, fetters.^[4]
4. A bond (of love).^[4]
5. A chain, series (of causes).^[4]

Word family

• catella
• catēnārius
• catēnātus
• catēnō
• catenula

Related words

• cassis
• caterva
• English chain
• English catenary

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
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
9. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
10. ^ Buchi, Éva; Schweickard, Wolfgang, eds. (2008–), Dictionnaire Étymologique Roman (DÉRom), Nancy: ATILF, http://www.atilf.fr/DERom
11. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com