concilium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔŋˈkɪ.li.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon̠ʲˈt͡ʃiː.li.um]^[1]

Forms

concilium n (genitive conciliī or concilī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is probably from Latin com- + calō (“to call, summon”) + -ium, an assembly called together.^[2][3][4] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *kela-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- (“to call”).^[5]

The TLL notes that the meaning of conciliō “to bring together, win over” fits this poorly.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in Plautus in the sense “debate, deliberation”: “here was a debate”.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

From Lucretius onwards it meant a gathering or assembly, especially the assembly of the plebs at Rome, as in inscriptions.^[5][2] Lucretius used it of the union of atoms, and Cicero of the assembly of the gods and of men united by law in states.^[2][4]

It also meant a hearing before a council, as in Livy.^[2] In Christian Latin it was a church council or synod.^[7] English council came from it through Old French in the early 12th century, first in the Church sense.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a debate.^[5][2]
• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the union of atoms.^[2][7]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the assembly of the gods.^[2][4][7]
• early 12th century – English council is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. An assembly, public meeting, especially of the plebs.^[2][1]
2. A society, association (of men).^[2]
3. A union, connection (of atoms).^[2][4]
4. A company, band, in uno concilio: together.^[2]
5. A hearing (before a council).^[2]
6. A debate, deliberation.^[2]
7. (Christian Latin) A church council, synod.^[7]

Word family

• conciliō

Related words

• cōnsilium
• English council

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes concilium, a meeting of select persons summoned to deliberate, from contio and comitia, meetings of the whole community.^[9]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ 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
6. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper