Etymologically
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cherub

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈkʰɛ.ruːb][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈkɛː.rub][1]

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]

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