cherub

Forms

cherūb n or m (genitive cherūb)^[1] The plural is cherūbīm or cherūbīn, also indeclinable, and the plural form is often used for a single cherub.^[2][3][4][1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek χερούβ (kheroúb), from Biblical Hebrew כְּרוּב (kərūḇ).^[1][5] Etymonline reports Klein's suggestion that the Hebrew word is related to Akkadian karibu (“one who blesses”), an epithet of the bull-colossus, but notes that there are other theories.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first author is Tertullian, who quotes the Old Latin version of Ezekiel with the singular cherubin.^[3][6]

Semantic evolution

In the Latin Bible it names the winged beings of the Old Testament, in the Vulgate of Genesis and Ezekiel among other books;^[2][3] Aldhelm recalls how, in Genesis, a cherub with a flaming, turning sword shut the gate of paradise.^[7] Jerome insists that the singular cherub and the plural cherubim are both masculine, though many took the plural for a neuter, and he explains that this is a matter of grammar, not of sex.^[3] Tertullian and some others did use it as a neuter.^[3]

Glossaries, like Isidore of Seville, interpret the name as “fullness of knowledge”,^[8][2] and Eriugena as “outpouring of wisdom”.^[7] Medieval writers counted the cherubim among the orders of angels, next to the seraphim.^[7][9] The word was also used for a figure of a cherub: an English Liberate roll of 1240 orders two handsome cherubs with cheerful faces to be made beside the great cross of a church.^[7] English cherub came from it in the late 14th century;^[5] Old English had cerubin, from the plural.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian quotes the Old Latin version of Ezekiel.^[3][6]
• 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses the plural.^[2][4][6]
• c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome discusses its number and gender.^[3][6]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it in Genesis and Ezekiel.^[2][6]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville interprets the name.^[2][8][6]
• 1240 – An English Liberate roll orders two figures of cherubs for a church.^[7]
• late 14th century – English cherub is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Ecclesiastical Latin, biblical) A cherub, one of the winged beings of the Old Testament; one of an order of angels.^[2][3][9][7]
2. (Medieval Latin) A figure of a cherub.^[7]

Related words

• English cherub

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c d e f g 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
8. ^ a b Goetz, Georg (1888–1923), Corpus glossariorum Latinorum, Leipzig: Teubner; vols. VI–VII Thesaurus glossarum emendatarum, digital ed. CGLO, Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
9. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson