electricus

Forms

ēlectricus (feminine ēlectrica, neuter ēlectricum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ēlectrum (“amber”) + -icus.^[1][2] ēlectrum is from Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron, “amber; pale gold”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Roger Bacon uses it in 1267 of islands between Germany and England that are called electricae because they are rich in amber, following Pliny.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

William Gilbert gave it its modern sense in De Magnete (1600), for the force by which amber and similar substances attract light objects when rubbed: vim illam electricam nobis placet appellare, “we choose to call that force electric”.^[2] English electric followed in the 1640s, and the sense “charged with electricity” in the 1670s.^[2] Modern Church Latin uses it for “electric”.^[5]

Timeline

• 1267 – Roger Bacon, “rich in amber”.^[3][4]
• 1600 – William Gilbert, of the attractive force of rubbed amber.^[2]
• 1640s – English electric.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Rich in amber.^[3]
2. (New Latin) electric; originally, attracting light objects when rubbed, like amber.^[2][1][5]

Related words

• English electric

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c 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
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson