Etymologically
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idioma

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪ.diˈoː.ma][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [i.diˈɔː.ma][1]

Forms

idiōma n (genitive idiōmatis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἰδίωμα (idíōma, “peculiarity”).[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The grammarian Charisius uses it of a peculiarity of expression.[4][5] Köbler dates Charisius about 362 AD.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant a special term or phrase used by a person or group, a peculiarity of language, an idiom.[2][7] Glosses explain it as proprietas or consuetudo, a peculiar property or custom, and Porphyrio uses it in his commentary on Horace.[8]

In medieval Latin it meant a way of speaking, a language or dialect, and a peculiarity or special property; theologians spoke of the communicatio idiomatum, the interchange of the properties of Christ's two natures.[9][10][11] English idiom is recorded in the 1580s for a form of speech peculiar to a people or place.[12]

Timeline

  • 2nd half of the 2nd century AD – Porphyrio uses it.[8][6]
  • c. 362 AD – Charisius uses it of grammatical idioms.[4][6]
  • 1580s – English idiom is recorded.[12]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A peculiarity of language, an idiom.[2][1]
  2. A peculiarity, special property.[8][11]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A language, dialect.[9][10]

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. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
  4. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  10. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  11. ^ 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
  12. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com