Etymologically
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diploma

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɪˈpɫoː.ma], [dɪpˈɫoː.ma][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈplɔː.ma], [dipˈlɔː.ma][1]

Forms

diplōma n (genitive diplōmatis); third declension[1] Also duplōma; the grammarians record dipluma and diplōmum.[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek δίπλωμα (díplōma, “folded paper; licence”), from διπλόος (diplóos, “double”), a letter folded double.[2][1][4][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short and Köbler cite Cicero, of a state letter of recommendation for travellers.[5][4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a folded tablet with a magistrate's instructions giving the bearer free passage and help on a journey, as in Cicero and Tacitus; under the Empire it allowed the use of the imperial post, and it was also a letter of recommendation or a certificate of privileges, as in Suetonius.[2][5] An officer ā diplōmatibus issued them for the emperor.[2]

In Medieval Latin it was a decree of a church council and a bill of indictment.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for an official document, especially a papal letter of appointment.[8] In Ecclesiastical Latin it was a diploma, charter.[9] English diploma (1640s, “state paper”) is from it, and New Latin diplōmaticus (1680s) gave English diplomatic, first “of official documents”.[6]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of letters of passage.[5][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it.[5][4]
  • 845 – a church council uses it.[4]
  • 1640s – English diploma is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A folded tablet granting free passage, a passport; a permit for the imperial post.[2]
  2. A letter of recommendation; a certificate of privileges.[2][5]
  3. (Medieval Latin) An official document, charter; a conciliar decree.[7][8][9]

Word family

  • diplōmārius
  • diplōmatia
  • diplōmaticus
  • English diploma
  • English diplomatic

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson