installatio

Forms

installātiō f (genitive installātiōnis); third declension^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin installō (“to install in an office”) + -tiō, a Medieval Latin word.^[2][1][3] The verb is formed from in- and stallum (“stall”), a word of Germanic origin,^[3] the seat in the choir into which a cleric was installed.^[4][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The MLW cites it first from the registers of Pope Innocent III, as a canonical term for the conferring of an office.^[2][1]

Semantic evolution

It first meant leading someone into the choir, then installing someone in a church office or a benefice, literally “seating in a stall”.^[5] Niermeyer defines it as installing in a prebend.^[4] British sources use it for installing bishops, abbots, canons and royal or military officers.^[6] In Poland the arrae īnstallātiōnum were deposits paid by candidates for church posts, and a liber īnstallātiōnum was a register of installations.^[7] Köbler also records the sense “instalment” in 1294.^[1] English installation, from the mid-15th century, first referred to church offices.^[3]

Timeline

• 1198–1216 – The registers of Innocent III use it of installation in an office.^[2][1]
• 1240 – It is recorded for installation in a prebend.^[1]
• 1294 – It is recorded in the sense “instalment”.^[1]
• mid-15th century – English borrows it as installation.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, church) Installation in an office or benefice, especially in a prebend; originally, induction into the choir.^[4][2][5][6]
2. (Medieval Latin) Installation in a secular office, in the royal household or the army.^[6]
3. (Medieval Latin) An instalment.^[1]

Related words

• English installation

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ a b Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
6. ^ 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
7. ^ Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl