Etymologically
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catena

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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
  • 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