installo

Forms

īnstallō (present infinitive īnstallāre, perfect active īnstallāvī, supine īnstallātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is a Medieval Latin verb,^[2] from Latin in-¹ (“in”) + stallum (“stall, seat in a choir”).^[1][3][4] The noun is usually taken as borrowed from Frankish *stall (“stall, stable”);^[1][3] Wiktionary also allows a derivation from, or a blending with, stabulum (“stable”),^[1] which is Niermeyer's view.^[4] The MLW compares Old French estal and installer.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest British example in the DMLBS is from 1148, in the Liber Landavensis, where a bishop is admitted and installed;^[2] the MLW quotes it from the registers of Pope Innocent III, of a canon asking to be installed in a church with a prebend.^[5]

Semantic evolution

The verb meant at first to put a cleric in possession of his stall in the choir, and so of his prebend or office.^[4][3] It was used of bishops, abbots, canons and prebendaries,^[2][5] and then of any appointment to office: a treasurer of England, an emperor installed with his insignia.^[2] The participle came to mean “installed, in office”.^[5] English install (early 15th century) is from Old French installer or directly from Medieval Latin.^[3]

Timeline

• 1148 – The Liber Landavensis uses it of installing a bishop.^[2]
• 1334 – A Durham chronicle, under this year, records the installation of a treasurer of England.^[2]
• early 15th century – English install is first recorded, of placing someone in a church office.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Medieval Latin) To install (a cleric) in a choir stall or prebend.^[4][5][2]
2. (Medieval Latin) To install in office, appoint, establish.^[5][2][1]

Related words

• English install

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften