Etymologically
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computatorium

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [kɔm.pʊ.taːˈtoː.ri.ũː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [kom.pu.taˈtɔː.ri.um][1]

Forms

computātōrium n (genitive computātōriī or computātōrī); second declension[1] Medieval records also spell it computōrium, compotōrium and conpotōrium.[2][1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of the medieval adjective computātōrius (“used for reckoning”) used as a noun, from computō (“to reckon”).[2][3][4][1] Wiktionary takes it as a word in ⟨-tōrium⟩, a suffix for places and instruments, and thinks the medieval word renders a Romance word like French comptoir in Latin form.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest example in the DMLBS is an English account of 1274, which pays four shillings for a counting table or chest, written ⟨conputor'⟩.[2] Niermeyer glosses it as a counting table in the form of a chessboard.[3]

Semantic evolution

In medieval England it named things used for counting money: a table or chest for counting or keeping money, the tokens counted on it, and the counting-room or counting-house.[2][1] In 1284 a man was taken for breaking one in which silver clasps were found,[2] and in 1337 one is described as made of oak with two locks.[2] The sheriffs kept two of them, the courts and prisons called the Compter.[2][1] Du Cange quotes a record of 1435 from Carcassonne for the entrance of the great computātōrium of the treasury, a hall where accounts were received or money counted.[5]

In New Latin, Wiktionary records it as a translation of English computer.[1]

Timeline

  • 1274 – An English account pays for a counting table or chest.[2]
  • 1325 – Accounts at Durham pay for counting tokens.[2]
  • 1348 – The sheriffs are to keep two compters.[2]
  • 1383 – It is used of a counting-room.[2][4]
  • 1435 – A record from Carcassonne names the great counting-hall of the treasury.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A table or chest for counting or keeping money; a counter.[2][3][4][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A token used in counting.[2][1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A counting-room, counting-house; a hall where accounts are received.[2][5][1]
  4. (Medieval Latin, England) A sheriff's court or prison, a compter.[2][1]
  5. (New Latin) A computer.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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
  3. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre