choralis

Forms

chorālis (neuter chorāle); third-declension two-termination adjective; also spelled corālis, chorealis and chorialis.^[1][2][3][4]

Etymology

It is from Latin chorus (“choir”) + -ālis, a Medieval Latin adjective.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Decretum of Burchard of Worms (1008–1012),^[1] where someone is said to be choralis, taking part in the choir service.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant belonging to the service of the choir: of people who took part in it, and of things used or worn in it, such as the choir cope, or needed for it.^[3][2] As a noun it named a chorister or choir priest,^[2][5] and the neuter chorāle a carpet for the choir of a church.^[2] In Britain it was used of a choir priest and of the vicar choral.^[4]

In music it came to mean belonging to the Gregorian chant;^[6][7] later music theory also applied it, wrongly, to polyphonic music.^[6]

Timeline

• 1008–1012 – The Decretum of Burchard of Worms uses it of someone serving in the choir.^[1][3]
• Middle Ages – It is used of choir copes, choir books and the vicar choral.^[3][4]
• Middle Ages – In music it names what belongs to the Gregorian chant.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of the choir or the divine service sung in it; taking part in it, used or worn in it.^[2][3][8]
2. (music) Of the Gregorian chant.^[6][7]
3. (substantive, masculine) A chorister, choir priest.^[2][5]
4. (substantive, neuter) chorāle: a carpet for the choir of a church.^[2]

Related words

• chorus

References

1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c 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
5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ a b c d Lexicon musicum Latinum medii aevi (1992–), Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften; online ed. Wörterbuchnetz
7. ^ a b Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson