Etymologically
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dictatrix

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɪkˈtaː.triːks][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [dikˈtaː.triks][1]

Forms

dictātrīx f (genitive dictātrīcis, masculine dictātor); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dictō (“to dictate, prescribe”) + -trīx, a feminine of dictātor.[2][1] ⟨dictō⟩ is a frequentative of dīcō (“to say”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *deik-e/o- (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-e/o-.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Plautus' Persa, where it is a comic feminine of dictātor.[2][5][6] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

In Plautus it was a jocular “dictatress”.[2][5] British Medieval Latin used it figuratively for a directress.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[5][6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (comic) A dictatress.[2][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A directress.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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