geometricus

Forms

geōmetricus (feminine geōmetrica, neuter geōmetricum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek γεωμετρικός (geōmetrikós, “geometrical”).^[2][1][3] Köbler connects that word with Ancient Greek γῆ (gê, “earth”) and μέτρον (métron, “measure”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Cicero, who speaks of geometrical figures and proofs.^[5][6][4]

Semantic evolution

Cicero sets geometrical proofs against the arguments of philosophers and uses the neuter plural geometrica as a noun for geometry.^[5][3][6] It also belonged to land surveying: Georges cites the surveyor's measuring cord, funiculus geometricus, from Rufinus.^[3] Quintilian uses the masculine as a noun for a geometer, and Pliny the Elder and Vitruvius have the feminine geometrice for geometry.^[5][6]

In British Medieval Latin Aldhelm already speaks of the geometrical arts beside grammar, and the feminine is used as a noun for geometry.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of geometrical figures and proofs, and the neuter plural for geometry.^[5][6][4]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it as a noun for a geometer.^[5][6][4]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville uses it as a noun.^[4]
• before 690 – Aldhelm uses it of the geometrical arts.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of geometry, geometrical; of land surveying.^[2][5][3]

Noun

1. (masculine) A geometer, a land surveyor.^[4][5][6][1]
2. (neuter plural) Geometry.^[2][5]
3. (feminine, geometrica) Geometry.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b c 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