Etymologically
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circa

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɪr.kaː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃir.ka][1]

Forms

circā (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is a later formation beside circum “around”, the old accusative of circus “ring”; de Vaan dates it to the end of the 1st century BC.[2] The OLD derives it from ⟨circum⟩ with the adverb ending -ā, and Lewis & Short report Klotz's explanation as ⟨circum eā⟩.[3][4] De Vaan takes ⟨circus⟩ to be probably a loan from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos, “ring”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first source is the Lex repetundarum (late 2nd century BC).[2] Lewis & Short note that it is rare before the Augustan period and frequent in Livy and Quintilian.[4]

Semantic evolution

As an adverb it meant round about, in the vicinity, as in Vitruvius and Virgil, and on either side in Livy.[3] As a preposition with the accusative it meant around, in the company of, near, as in Cicero; in Horace about, of number or size, and in Livy about, of time, and concerning.[3] In Seneca it marked an activity (“busy about”), and in Pliny the Elder it meant with regard to.[3]

Medieval Latin used it for towards, on behalf of, and a separate noun circa (from circāre) for a watch round in a fortress or monastery.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for approximately and concerning.[6] It survives in Spanish and Portuguese cerca, and English took circa in 1856 for “about” a date.[1][7]

Timeline

  • late 2nd century BC – The Lex repetundarum uses it.[2]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it as a preposition, “around”.[3][8]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of time, “about”.[3][8]
  • 1856 – English circa is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Round about, around.[3]
  2. In the neighbourhood; on either side.[3]

Preposition

  1. (with accusative) Around; in the company of; near.[3]
  2. About, approximately (of number or time).[3]
  3. Concerning; with regard to.[3]

Word family

  • circāmoerium
  • circumcircā
  • quōcircā

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de