confessionalis

Forms

cōnfessiōnālis (neuter cōnfessiōnāle); third-declension adjective^[1][2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin cōnfessiō (“confession”) + -ālis.^[1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the 10th century Ratherius heads a work as an extract from the confessional dialogue of a most wicked man, “astonishingly, Ratherius” himself.^[2][1]

Semantic evolution

Later medieval Latin used it of what concerns confession or is obtained in it^[2][5][3] and, in Poland, of a woman who confessed to a particular priest, his penitent.^[3] Litterae confessionales were letters from the Roman curia, obtained for payment, that let the holder choose a confessor and granted other spiritual benefits;^[6][3] used as a noun, confessionale named such a letter^[6][3] and also the confessional, the stall where confession is heard.^[3][4]

English confessional (1727) comes from the noun through French.^[4]

Timeline

• 10th century – Ratherius speaks of a confessional dialogue.^[2][1]
• 1334 – A Canterbury account records a payment for confessional letters at the Roman curia.^[6]
• 1392 – A Polish record uses it of something connected with confession.^[3]
• 1426 – An ordinance of the English Benedictines forbids monks to obtain a confessionale from the Roman curia without consulting their superior.^[6]
• 1727 – English borrows the noun as confessional, the stall where a priest hears confession.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Of or relating to confession; made or obtained in confession.^[2][7][3][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) litterae confessionales: papal letters granting the right to choose a confessor and other spiritual benefits.^[6][3]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, neuter confessionale) A letter of this kind.^[6][3]
2. (Medieval Latin, neuter confessionale) A confessional, the stall where a priest hears confession.^[3][4]

Related words

• confessio
• English confessional

References

1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
4. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
6. ^ a b c d e f 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
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson