Etymologically
Log in

funeralis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 13:59. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [fuː.nɛˈraː.lɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [fu.neˈraː.lis][1]

Forms

fūnerālis (neuter fūnerāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin fūnus (“funeral”) + -ālis, formed on the oblique stem ⟨fūner-⟩.[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it to Augustine (354–430),[4] and Georges and Gaffiot cite a sermon ascribed to him, which speaks of a reward at a funeral.[2][5][6] They also cite the production notices (didascaliae) of Terence's Adelphoe and Hecyra, which name ludi funerales, funeral games.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The Classical adjective was fūnebris; this one is Late Latin.[3][1] Ecclesiastical Latin also used it for something deadly or mournful.[7]

In Medieval Latin it described anything connected with a funeral, and the neuter plural funeralia became a noun for the funeral rites, the funeral expenses and the burial fees a church received.[8] From funeralia comes the English adjective funeral (late 14th century), which became the noun in the 1510s.[3]

Timeline

  • 354–430 AD – Augustine (or a sermon under his name) uses it.[2][4]
  • 1322 – A will provides for expensas funerales, funeral expenses.[8]
  • late 14th century – English borrows funeral as an adjective.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Late Latin) Of or for a funeral.[2][5][8]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Deadly, mournful.[7][6]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, neuter plural funeralia) Funeral rites; funeral expenses; burial fees paid to a church.[8][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ 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