Etymologically
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circum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɪr.kũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃir.kum][1]

Forms

circum (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is the old accusative of circus “ring”, used as an adverb, “in a ring”.[2][3][1] De Vaan takes ⟨circus⟩ to be probably a loan from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos, “ring”), also ⟨κίρκος⟩, of uncertain origin, and Ernout and Meillet's idea of a partial reduplication of the root of curvus he calls speculative.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first source is Plautus, whom Köbler dates c. 250–184 BC.[2][4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Pacuvius for the adverb and Cato and Ennius for the preposition.[3]

Semantic evolution

As an adverb it meant round about, in a circle, as in Pacuvius, and in Virgil in attendance, near by, and at many points around.[3] As a preposition with the accusative it meant round, in a circle round, as in Cato; gathered round a person, as in Terence; in the neighbourhood of, as in Ennius; and round several places in turn, as in Plautus.[3] Vitruvius used it of time, about.[3]

As the prefix circum- it formed many compounds such as circumdō and circumferō.[3] Isidore derived the name of the Circus from the horses running round the turning posts.[5] English uses it in compounds with English circum-.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it as a preposition.[3][4]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of time.[3][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Round about, in a circle.[3]
  2. In attendance; near by.[3]

Preposition

  1. (with accusative) Around, round.[3]
  2. Gathered round, in attendance on.[3]
  3. In the neighbourhood of, near.[3]
  4. About (of time).[3]

Word family

  • circā
  • circumcellio
  • circumcircā
  • circumquaque
  • circumsecus
  • incircum
  • circumundique
  • circum-
  • idcircō

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 l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com