episcopalis

Forms

episcopālis (neuter episcopāle); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin episcopus (“bishop”) + -ālis.^[1][2][3] Episcopus itself is from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos, “overseer”).^[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL's earliest instance is in Hilary of Poitiers,^[2][5] who wrote between about 315 and 367/368;^[5] there it qualifies the decisions (arbitria) of bishops.^[2]

Semantic evolution

From the 4th century it meant whatever belonged to or befitted a bishop: his seat, office, rank, rights and way of life.^[2][6] Prudentius speaks of the episcopal throne,^[3] and Augustine has the adverb episcopāliter, “as a bishop should”.^[3]

In medieval Latin it was frequent in charters and church law.^[7][6] Used as a noun, the masculine could mean a bishop's son, and the neuter episcopāle a bishop's liturgical book or a pontifical Mass; the plural episcopālia meant the insignia of a bishop,^[8] and in British sources also episcopal dues and robes.^[6] The MLW records it as a name of the Liber pontificalis.^[7] English took over episcopal in the 15th century.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 315–367/368 AD – Hilary of Poitiers uses it of bishops' judgements.^[2][5]
• 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius speaks of the episcopal throne.^[3][5]
• 354–430 AD – Augustine uses the adverb episcopāliter.^[3][5]
• 759 – A deed of gift from Freising uses it.^[7]
• mid-15th century – English borrows it as episcopal.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of or belonging to a bishop, episcopal.^[3][2][8][9]
2. Befitting a bishop.^[2][7]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, masculine) A bishop's son.^[8]
2. (Medieval Latin, neuter) A bishop's liturgical book; a pontifical Mass.^[8]
3. (Medieval Latin, neuter plural) The insignia of a bishop; episcopal dues or robes.^[8][6]

Word family

• episcopāliter

Related words

• episcopus
• English episcopal

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d 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 c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ a b c d e Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson