Etymologically
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incolumis

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪŋˈkɔ.ɫʊ.mɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iŋˈkɔː.lu.mis][1]

Forms

incolumis (neuter incolume); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from in- (“not”) and an unattested *columis or *calamis “damaged”, related to calamitās “loss, damage”.[2][1] Schrijver explains the vowel ⟨o⟩ instead of the expected ⟨i⟩ by the influence of a velar l.[1] Köbler connects it with Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂- (“to strike”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, and the OLD cites him for persons undamaged in position.[3][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant physically unharmed, uninjured, safe and sound, as in Terence and Caesar, also in good health, as in Horace, and still living, as in Tacitus.[2][4] It meant undamaged in power, wealth or status, of persons and of states, as Cicero's city and citizens preserved, and of abstract things unimpaired, intact.[2][5] Döderlein says salvus and sospes mean safe as opposed to killed, while incolumis and integer mean unhurt, untouched.[6]

In Medieval Latin it meant unharmed, in good health, especially in sānus et incolumis, like Old French sain et sauf.[7] Italian incolume and Spanish incólume are learned borrowings.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of persons unharmed in position.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of physical safety.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the city and citizens preserved.[5][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Unharmed, safe and sound.[2]
  2. In good health; still living.[2]
  3. Undamaged in position or power.[2]
  4. Unimpaired, intact.[2]

Word family

  • incolumitās

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ 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