Etymologically
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cliens

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkli.ẽːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkliː.ens][1]

Forms

cliēns m or f (genitive clientis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *klient- (“who supports, who depends”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *ḱli-ent- (“who leans”), originally the active participle of the root aorist Proto-Indo-European *ḱlei- (“to lean”).[2][3] Cognate with Lithuanian šlíeti (“to lean”) and Latvian sliet (“to support, erect”).[2] Older dictionaries derived it from clueō “to hear, be called”, as one who listens to a patron, and Servius from colēns “honouring”; the spelling ⟨cluens⟩ occurs in Plautus.[4][5][6][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Twelve Tables already have it, in the rule that a patron who has defrauded his client is to be accursed (patronus si clienti fraudem fecerit, sacer esto).[6][2] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables to about 450 BC.[7]

Semantic evolution

At Rome a cliens was a person who attached himself to a more powerful patrōnus for protection.[6] The word also named the citizens of an Italian or foreign city whose interests a Roman patron looked after, the vassals or dependants of a foreign chief, a votary of a god and a satellite town.[6]

In medieval Latin it meant a vassal, a ministerial, an esquire and a man-at-arms,[8] and British writers used it of a servant, retainer or pupil.[9] English client meant at first “one who lives under the patronage of another”.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables curse a patron who defrauds his client.[6][7]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it, also in the spelling cluens.[6][7]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the dependants of the Gaulish chief Orgetorix.[6][7]
  • Middle Ages – It is used of a vassal and a man-at-arms.[8]
  • late 14th century – English client is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A client, a person under the protection of a more powerful patrōnus.[6]
  2. (usually plural) The citizens of a city whose interests a Roman patron looked after.[6]
  3. A dependant, vassal of a foreign chief or people.[6]
  4. A votary of a god; a satellite town.[6]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A vassal; an esquire; a man-at-arms.[8]

Word family

  • clienta
  • clientēla
  • clientulus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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