donum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdoː.nũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɔː.num]^[1]

Forms

dōnum n (genitive dōnī); second declension^[1] Old inscriptions have dōnom and dunom.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *dōno- (“gift”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *deh₃-no- (“gift”), from the root of dō “to give”.^[2][1][3] Cognate with Venetic donom (“gift”), Oscan dunum (“gift”), Umbrian dunum (“gift”) and Sanskrit दान (dā́na, “gift”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a present or gift, an offering to a god, as on early inscriptions, a blessing from a god, such as Bacchus' gifts, and an act of favour.^[3] Ovid's ultima dōna were the last rites.^[5] Döderlein contrasts dōnum, a free gift to give pleasure, with mūnus, a gift in return for services.^[6]

In medieval Latin it was a deed of gift, a compulsory gift to the king and a bribe, and also natural talent.^[7][8][9] It survives as Italian dono, French don and Spanish don.^[1] English donation comes from dōnātiō.^[10]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[11][4]
• mid-15th century – English donation is recorded, from dōnātiō.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A gift, present.^[3][11]
2. An offering (to a god).^[3][1]
3. A blessing, gift (of a god).^[3]
4. A favour, bounty.^[3]
5. (Medieval Latin) A deed of gift; a bribe; talent.^[7][9][8]

Word family

• dōnificō
• dōnō

Related words

• dō
• dōnātiō
• dōnātīvum
• mūnus
• English donation

Usage notes

Isidore says that a dōnum is anything made of gold, silver or another material.^[12]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c 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. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
9. ^ 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
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
11. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
12. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).