chronicus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkʰrɔ.nɪ.kʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkrɔː.ni.kus]^[1]

Forms

chronicus (feminine chronica, neuter chronicum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek χρονικός (khronikós, “of time”), from ⟨khrónos⟩ “time”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Pliny the Elder, whom he dates 23/24–79 AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant pertaining to time, written in the form of annals, and Gellius has librī chronicī “chronicles”, and the neuter plural chronica was a chronicle.^[2][5][6]

In medicine it was used of lasting illnesses: British Medieval Latin used it for chronic, and as a noun a chronic illness.^[7] Through Old French chronique it gave English chronic in the early 15th century, of diseases “lasting a long time”, and chronica gave English chronicle.^[3]

Timeline

• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it.^[4]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius has librī chronicī.^[5][4]
• early 15th century – English chronic is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of time; in the form of annals.^[2][5]
2. (medicine) Chronic.^[7]

Word family

• chronicum

Related words

• chronica
• English chronic
• English chronicle

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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b 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