Etymologically
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installatio

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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]

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