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circularis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word circularis

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Augustine
Ultimate origin
Latin (circus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɪr.kʊˈɫaː.rɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [t͡ʃir.kuˈlaː.ris][1]

Forms

circulāris (neuter circulāre, adverb circulāriter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from circulus “small ring” with the suffix -āris; ⟨circulus⟩ is a diminutive of circus “circle”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Augustine, whom he dates 354–430 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant circular, round, a post-classical word, as in Martianus Capella.[2][5] Isidore's circulāris numerus was a number whose square ends in itself, such as five times five, twenty-five.[6][7]

Medieval Latin used it for circular.[8] British Medieval Latin also used it for adorned with circles, roundabout, and figuratively devious.[9] English circular came through Anglo-French in the late 14th century, “round”.[3]

Timeline

  • 354–430 AD – Augustine uses it.[4]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore defines circulāris numerus.[6][4]
  • late 14th century – English circular is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Circular, round.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Roundabout; devious.[9]

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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Circularis.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/circularis. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·