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causidicus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word causidicus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (causa,dīcō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kau̯ˈsɪ.dɪ.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kau̯ˈsiː.di.kus][1]

Forms

causidicus m (genitive causidicī); second declension[1] Also spelled caussidicus.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from the phrase ⟨causam dīcere⟩ “to plead a case”, a compound of causa and -dicus from dīcō “to say”.[4][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero.[5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a pleader of causes, an advocate, often with a contemptuous tone, a mere professional pleader as opposed to an orator, as in Cicero.[4][2][6]

Medieval Latin used it for an ecclesiastical advocate, the opposing party in a lawsuit, and a lay assessor or magistrate (German Schöffe, Schultheiß).[7] British Medieval Latin used it for an advocate, pleader.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a pleader.[6][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A pleader, advocate, barrister.[4][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) An ecclesiastical advocate; an opposing party; an assessor.[7]

Word family

  • causidicālis
  • causidicina

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  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
Cite this entry

“Causidicus.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/causidicus. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·