eunuchus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɛu̯ˈnuː.kʰʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eu̯ˈnuː.kus]^[1]

Forms

eunūchus m (genitive eunūchī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek εὐνοῦχος (eunoûkhos, “eunuch”).^[2][1][3] Etymonline explains the Greek as “guard of the bedchamber”, from εὐνή (eunḗ, “bed”) and ἔχω (ékhō, “to have, hold”), and Donatus already gave this explanation.^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Terence uses it in the Eunuch, a comedy whose title is feminine because fabula is understood.^[6][7] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[8]

Semantic evolution

It meant a castrated man, in Cicero, Caesar, Martial and Juvenal.^[7][6] The Vulgate uses it often, and medieval writers referred to the eunuchs of Matthew 19 and the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8.^[7][9]

In medieval Latin it also meant a chamberlain, an official or servant, and of animals a gelding.^[8][10][9] English eunuch is recorded in the late 14th century.^[4]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence names a comedy after it.^[6][8]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[7][8]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it often.^[7][8]
• late 14th century – English eunuch is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A eunuch.^[2][1]
2. Eunūchus (feminine), the title of Terence's comedy.^[7][6]
3. (Medieval Latin) A chamberlain, official; a gelding.^[8][10]

Word family

• eunuchinus
• eunūchō

Related words

• English eunuch

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
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 Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften