Etymologically
Log in

cellularis

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word cellularis

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
Ultimate origin
Latin cellula
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin cella
English cell
Italian cella
Latin cellula
French cellule
Latin cellularis
From the same root
Latin cellarium ← cella

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kɛl.lʊˈɫaː.rɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [t͡ʃel.luˈlaː.ris][1]

Forms

cellulāris (neuter cellulāre); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin cellula (“little cell”) + -āris, a New Latin adjective;[1][2][3] the noun is a diminutive of cella (“small room”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Wiktionary, Etymonline and Barnhart give it as New Latin, with the meaning “of little cells”.[1][2][3]

Semantic evolution

In New Latin it became a term of cytology, “relating to cells”.[1] Barnhart takes it as probably the source of English cellular, recorded in 1753, perhaps with the influence of French cellulaire, recorded in 1740;[3][2] English cellular membrane, from 1773, was later replaced by cell membrane.[3]

Timeline

  • 1740 – French cellulaire is recorded.[3]
  • 1753 – English cellular is recorded, probably from it.[3][2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (New Latin) Of little cells, consisting of cells.[2][3]
  2. (New Latin, cytology) Cellular, relating to cells.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
Cite this entry

“Cellularis.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/cellularis. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·