Etymologically
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documentum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɔ.kʊˈmɛn.tũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [do.kuˈmɛn.tum][1]

Forms

documentum n (genitive documentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from doceō “to teach” with the suffix -mentum.[2][1][3][4] Varro defines ⟨documenta⟩ as examples given for the sake of teaching.[5] Lucretius has ⟨documen⟩, and the spelling ⟨docimentum⟩ is also found.[5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of an example.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Varro 116–27 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant an example serving as a precedent, warning or lesson, as Cicero's lesson fortune wished us to take of what the defeated must fear, and a proof or specimen.[2][5][7] In Apuleius it meant instruction, teaching.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a document, example, proof, warning, specimen.[8] Medieval Latin used it for testimony, a supporting quotation, a written instrument serving as evidence, and doctrine.[9] English document came in the early 15th century, first “doctrine”, and as “official paper” from Medieval Latin.[4]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of an example.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a lesson.[7][6]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of instruction.[2][6]
  • early 15th century – English document is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An example, lesson, warning; a proof.[2][5]
  2. Instruction, teaching.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Written evidence, a document.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill