classicum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkɫas.sɪ.kũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈklas.si.kum]^[1]

Forms

classicum n (genitive classicī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of classicus “of the classes; of the fleet”, used as a noun, from classis.^[2][3] De Vaan reports Ernout and Meillet's view that “roll-call, summons” is the oldest meaning of ⟨classis⟩, and the Roman derivation from calō “to call out”, which would give ⟨*klh₁-d-ti-⟩ “a call”, but calls this reconstruction unsupported.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Caesar, whom he dates c. 50 BC.^[5] Caesar has classicum apud eum canī iubet “he orders the trumpet to sound at his quarters”.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant a military trumpet call, a signal given by the trumpet, as in Caesar and Livy.^[2][6]

In Medieval Latin it meant the ringing of all the bells at once, and it survives in French glas “knell” and Italian chiasso “din”.^[7][1]

Timeline

• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a trumpet call.^[6][5]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it.^[6][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A military trumpet call.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) A peal of all the bells.^[7]

Related words

• classis
• classicus
• calō

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. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill