cubiculum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kʊˈbɪ.kʊ.ɫũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kuˈbiː.ku.lum]^[1]

Forms

cubiculum n (genitive cubiculī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from cubō “to lie down” with the instrumental suffix -culum.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of a bedroom.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero.^[4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a sleeping room, bedroom, the scene of marital relations, as in Terence, a room for study or receiving visitors, with ā cubiculō a servant of the imperial bedchamber, and a bed.^[2] It meant any room, the emperor's box in the theatre or circus, the inner shrine of a temple, and in inscriptions a tomb.^[2] In Vitruvius it was the bed in which a beam rests.^[2] Döderlein says conclāve is any closed room, especially a state room, cubiculum a living room.^[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a bedroom, chamber.^[6] In Medieval Latin it meant a chapel inside a church, a tomb, and an inner recess.^[7][8] It survives in Spanish cobijo and Italian coviglio.^[1] English cubicle came in the mid-15th century, first meaning “bedroom”.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a bedroom.^[2][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of the marriage chamber.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a private room.^[2][4]
• mid-15th century – English cubicle is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bedroom; a bed.^[2]
2. A room; a private room.^[2]
3. The emperor's box (in the theatre).^[2]
4. An inner shrine.^[2]
5. A tomb.^[2][7]

Related words

• cubō
• cubīle
• conclāve
• English cubicle

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ 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