Etymologically

chirurgia

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kʰiːˈruːr.ɡi.a], [kʰiːˈruːr.ɡi.aː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kiˈrur.d͡ʒi.a], [kiˈrur.d͡ʒi.a][1]

Forms

chīrūrgia f (genitive chīrūrgiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek χειρουργία (kheirourgía, “handiwork, surgery”), from χείρ (kheír, “hand”) and the root of ἔργον (érgon, “work”).[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short cite Celsus, in the preface of his seventh book, on surgery.[5] Köbler dates Celsus 14–37 AD.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant surgery, as in Celsus and Scribonius Largus, and Cicero used it figuratively of a violent remedy.[5][2]

In Ecclesiastical and Medieval Latin it kept the sense surgery.[6][7] Through Old French serurgerie it gave English surgery about 1300, and its agent noun gave English surgeon.[4] The 1530s spelling chirurgeon was an attempt to restore the Greek form.[4]

Timeline

  • 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it.[5][3]
  • 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it.[3]
  • c. 1300 – English surgery is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Surgery.[2]
  2. (figurative) A violent remedy.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ 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