consulatus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kõː.sʊˈɫaː.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.suˈlaː.tus]^[1]

Forms

cōnsulātus m (genitive cōnsulātūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from cōnsul “consul” with the suffix -ātus.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cato, whom he dates 234–149 BC.^[4] An early elogium of a consul has prīmō cōnsulātū Ligurēs subēgit “in his first consulship he subdued the Ligurians”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant the office of consul, the consulship, a term of office, and one's acts as consul, as Cicero's tertius cōnsulātus of Pompey.^[2]

Medieval Latin had cōnsulātum dare, to throw money to the crowd as Roman consuls did on taking office, and used it for the office of a ruler's counsellor, a council of counsellors, and the dignity of a count.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it for a civic office, in Rome and in Gascony.^[6] It survives in Italian consolato and French consulat, and gave English consulate in the late 14th century, of the rule of the consuls at Rome.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^[4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a term as consul.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English consulate is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The consulship; a term as consul.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) The office of a ruler's counsellor; a council.^[5]
3. (Medieval Latin) A civic office, a consulate.^[6]

Related words

• cōnsul
• cōnsulō
• English consulate

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b 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