Etymologically
Log in

dotarium

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 05:01. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

dōtārium n (genitive dōtāriī); second declension[1][2] Also spelled ⟨dodarium⟩, ⟨doarium⟩, ⟨duarium⟩ and ⟨dowarium⟩, and used as a feminine ⟨dotaria⟩.[3][1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dōs (“dowry”) + -ārium.[3][1][4] Etymonline derives it from the verb dōtō (“to endow”), itself from the noun.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first recorded use is in the act of consecration of the church of Santa Maria de Marlès in Urgell, in 893, where the donors give houses and a court to the church in dotaria, as its endowment.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Catalan charters it was the endowment of a church and the charter that recorded it: in 907 the bishop Nantigisus assigns a parish to a church as set out in their dotaria, the endowment charter.[4][3] Its usual sense, however, was a dower, the property settled on a wife at marriage.[3][1][6] The Constitutions of Sicily allow a husband to set up one dōtārium for his wife out of three fiefs,[7] and a charter of King William of Sicily of 1177 grants a city to his wife as dower.[6] Under 1183 the Gesta of Henry II report that the king sent word that Queen Eleanor should go free and go about her dower.[6] A Hungarian record of 1494 has a queen asking for her dowry and her dōtārium from her marriage with King Matthias.[2] The DMLBS also records it once for a pledge.[6]

It is the source, through Anglo-French and Old French, of English dowry.[5]

Timeline

  • 893 – An act of consecration in Urgell endows a church in dotaria.[4]
  • 907 – Bishop Nantigisus of Urgell refers to a church's endowment.[4]
  • 1040 – A charter uses it.[1]
  • 1177 – King William of Sicily grants a city to his wife as dower.[6]
  • c. 1400 – English dowry is recorded.[5]
  • 1494 – A Hungarian record joins it with the dowry of a queen.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A dower, marriage portion settled on a wife.[3][1][7][6][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) The endowment of a church; the charter recording it.[3][4][1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A pledge.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  3. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f Glossarium Mediae Latinitatis Cataloniae (1960–; online ed. 2025), Barcelona: CSIC / Institució Milà i Fontanals, gmlc.imf.csic.es
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e f g 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
  7. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre