Etymologically
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contumelia

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔn.tʊˈmeː.li.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.tuˈmɛː.li.a][1]

Forms

contumēlia f (genitive contumēliae); first declension[1] A post-classical form contumia appears in Martianus Capella and the glosses.[2]

Etymology

It is probably a noun made from an adjective ⟨*contumēlis⟩ “insulting”, from a verb ⟨*contumē-⟩ “to insult”, best derived from the stem of tumeō “to be swollen”, through “boasting” and “insulting”.[3] De Vaan suggests the prefix com- was added by analogy with contemnō “to scorn”, which is close in sense.[3] The OLD connects it with contumāx “stubborn”, as Wiktionary and Etymonline do, while Lewis and Short and Döderlein derive it from ⟨contemnere⟩.[4][1][5][2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first attestation is Plautus, who has contumēliam dīcere “to insult”.[3][7] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[8]

Semantic evolution

It meant insulting language or behaviour, an affront, an indignity, as in Plautus and Cicero's contumēliam iacere in aliquem “to hurl an insult at someone”, and in Caesar rough treatment of things.[4][7] Döderlein explains that contumēlia is a wrong to another's honour, iniūria a violation of his rights, so that a blow is both.[6]

British Medieval Latin used it for an indignity, an affront, and a brawl.[9] It survives in Italian and Spanish contumelia and French contumélie, and through Old French it gave English contumely in the late 14th century.[1][5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of an insult.[3][7][8]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of hurling insults.[7][8]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of rough treatment.[4][8]
  • late 14th century – English contumely is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An insult, affront, indignity; contumely.[4]
  2. Rough treatment.[4]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A brawl.[9]

Word family

  • contumēliōsus
  • contumēliō

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from iniūria.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  9. ^ 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