duodecim

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [duˈɔ.dɛ.kĩː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [duˈɔː.de.t͡ʃim]^[1]

Forms

duodecim (indeclinable)^[1]

Etymology

It is a compound of duo “two” and decem “ten”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's and Lewis and Short's earliest citation is from Plautus' Epidicus.^[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant twelve, as in Cicero and Caesar, and duodecim tabulae “the Twelve Tables” were the laws of early Rome, often written XII.^[2][3][5]

British Medieval Latin used it of the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles.^[6] It survives in Italian dodici and French douze, and Old French dozaine gave English dozen about 1300.^[1][7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the Twelve Tables.^[5][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it.^[3][4]
• c. 1300 – English dozen is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Numeral

1. Twelve, duodecim tabulae, the Twelve Tables.^[2]

Word family

• duodecennis
• duodecennium
• duodeciaere
• duodeciēns
• duodecimvir
• duodecimus
• duodēnī

Related words

• duo
• decem
• English dozen

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com