Etymologically
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dialogus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [diˈa.ɫɔ.ɡʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈaː.lo.ɡus][1]

Forms

dialogus m (genitive dialogī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek διάλογος (diálogos, “conversation”), related to διαλέγομαι (dialégomai, “to converse”), from διά (diá, “across”) and λέγω (légō, “to speak”).[2][1][3] The TLL dates it from Cicero, who sometimes writes it in Greek.[4][5] Isidore defines it as a discussion of two or more persons.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of a discussion and of a written dialogue.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant a discussion, a dispute, and a literary work in dialogue form, a philosophical dialogue, as in Cicero and Quintilian.[2][5][7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a dialogue or conversation.[8] British Medieval Latin used it for Gregory the Great's Dialogues and for dramatic dialogue.[9] It survives in Italian dialogo and French dialogue, and English dialogue came about 1200, “a literary work in the form of a conversation”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a written dialogue.[2][6]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it.[5][6]
  • c. 1200 – English dialogue is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A discussion, dispute.[2]
  2. A dialogue (as a literary work).[2]

Word family

  • dialogista

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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 Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  9. ^ 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