famula

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfa.mʊ.ɫa]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfaː.mu.la]^[1]

Forms

famula f (genitive famulae, masculine famulus); first declension^[1] An inscription spells it famola.^[2]

Etymology

It is the feminine of famulus “servant”.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨famulus⟩ to Proto-Italic *famelos (“slave”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁-m-elo- (“foundation”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Lucretius, whom he dates 96–55 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a serving woman, a maid.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was a servant, a maidservant, .^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for a female servant, also figuratively.^[7] Köbler records it in a charter of 861.^[4]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.^[4]
• 861 – a charter uses it.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A serving woman, maid.^[2]
2. (figurative) A handmaid.^[7]

Related words

• famulātiō
• famulātus
• famulō
• famulor
• famulus
• familia

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ 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