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condimentum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word condimentum

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (condiō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔn.diːˈmɛn.tũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.diˈmɛn.tum][1]

Forms

condīmentum n (genitive condīmentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from condiō “to season, pickle” with the suffix -mentum.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of seasoning and figuratively of spice.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a seasoning, condiment, spice, as in Plautus and Columella's condīmenta viridia “green seasonings”, and figuratively what makes a thing pleasant, its spice, and the OLD also cites its use for the tempering quality of scrap bronze.[2][5] Lewis & Short note that it is most frequent in Plautus and Cicero.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was seasoning, spice.[7] Medieval Latin, taking it from condō, used it for a building.[8] British Medieval Latin used salt in condīmentum cibōrum “to season food”.[9] English condiment came through Old French in the mid-15th century.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[6][4]
  • mid-15th century – English condiment is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A seasoning, condiment, spice.[2]
  2. (figurative) What makes a thing pleasant, spice.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A building.[8]

Word family

  • condīmentārius

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b 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
Cite this entry

“Condimentum.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/condimentum. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·