Etymologically
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criminose

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Forms

crīminōsē (comparative crīminōsius, superlative crīminōsissimē)[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin crīminōsus (“accusatory, slanderous”) + -ē.[1][3] The adjective is from crīmen (“accusation”),[4][5] which de Vaan lists among the derivatives of cernō (“to sift, decide”), with the noun traced to Proto-Indo-European *(-)krei-mn.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,[5] who writes of something an accuser could say slanderously and suspiciously, criminose ac suspiciose.[1][7]

Semantic evolution

It means “accusingly, slanderously”: in the Brutus Cicero says he never heard anyone speak more suspiciously or accusingly,[2][3] Sallust has someone speak slanderously about a war, Livy has questions put so as to raise a charge, Tacitus writes of men who accused Blaesus more bitterly, and Suetonius of an attack made most slanderously.[1][2] Cicero also uses it of something done in a way that invites accusation.[1]

Later it meant “criminally, culpably”: Aurelius Victor and Commodian use it so,[3][7] and it has this sense in medieval Latin.[8][9]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of speaking slanderously.[1][5]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of slanderous talk about a war.[1][5]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses the comparative of accusing Blaesus.[1][5]
  • c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses the superlative.[1][5]
  • c. 360 AD – Aurelius Victor uses it for “criminally”.[3][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. In an accusing way, slanderously, abusively.[1][3][7]
  2. In a way that invites accusation.[1]
  3. (Late Latin) Criminally, culpably.[3][8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  7. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  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