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discrimen

Etymology and origin of the Latin word discrimen

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Lucilius
Ultimate origin
Latin (cernō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɪsˈkriː.mɛn][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [disˈkriː.men][1]

Forms

discrīmen n (genitive discrīminis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from discernō “to separate, distinguish” with the suffix -men, with syncope, as crīmen beside cernō.[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Lucilius, whom he dates c. 180–102 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a separating line or space, as Cicero's two seas divided by a narrow strip, a parting in the hair, and an interval in time.[2][5] It meant a difference, distinction, as in Lucretius, a difference of pitch, and the power of distinguishing, discrimination, a decision, a test.[2] Then it meant a decisive moment, crisis, and a dangerous situation in which everything is at stake, as in Cicero.[2]

In Medieval Latin it meant damage, loss.[6] English discrimination comes in the 1640s from Late Latin discrīminātiō, from its verb discrīminō.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it.[4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a partition and a parting in the hair.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a crisis and of danger.[2][4]
  • 1640s – English discrimination is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A dividing line, partition; a parting (in the hair).[2]
  2. A difference, distinction.[2]
  3. Discrimination, decision; a test.[2]
  4. A crisis, critical point.[2]
  5. Danger, peril.[2]

Word family

  • discrīminālia
  • discriminalis
  • discrīminō

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Discrimen.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/discrimen. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·