Etymologically
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classicum

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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]

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