externus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɛkˈstɛr.nʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ekˈstɛr.nus]^[1]

Forms

externus (feminine externa, neuter externum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from exter “outward” with the suffix -nus, like supernus.^[1][2][3] Priscian derived it from the adverb extrā.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Rhetorica ad Herennium, which he dates 86/82 BC.^[4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant situated outside, external, mare externum the ocean, as Cicero's warmth not to be thought external and adventitious.^[5][6] In Cicero it meant not belonging to the thing, extraneous, not intrinsic, and foreign, from abroad, and as a noun a foreigner.^[5][7] In Ovid it meant belonging to a stranger.^[5] Döderlein explains that exterus and externus denote a foreigner living abroad, while peregrīnus and advena denote one staying for a time.^[8]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant belonging to another, external.^[9] British Medieval Latin used it for foreign, alien, and as a noun a foreigner.^[10] It was borrowed into Italian esterno and French externe, and English external came in the early 15th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.^[4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the external and the foreign.^[5][4]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of a stranger's possessions.^[5][4]
• early 15th century – English external is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Outside, external, mare externum, the ocean.^[5]
2. Extraneous; not intrinsic.^[5]
3. Foreign; as a noun, a foreigner.^[5]

Word family

• externālis
• externātus

Related words

• exterior
• exterius
• exterus
• extimus
• extrēmum
• extrēmus
• exter
• English external

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from peregrīnus and advena, a sojourner.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
10. ^ 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