instrumentum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ĩː.struːˈmɛn.tũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.struˈmɛn.tum]^[1]

Forms

īnstrūmentum n (genitive īnstrūmentī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from īnstruō “to build, equip” with the suffix -mentum.^[2][1][3] Isidore defines it as that with which we build something, as a knife, a pen or an adze.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of the equipment for a trade.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Cato 234–149 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant equipment, tools, apparatus, collectively, as in Cato, a single tool, as in Varro, and the outfit or chattels of a person or place.^[2][6] In Cicero it meant the means for a purpose, an instrument, and a person's mental equipment, and Verres' furniture.^[2][7] In Quintilian it meant evidence on which a case rests, and a legal document, deed.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a tool, document, record, means.^[8] Medieval Latin used it for a holy book, a part of Scripture, and teaching.^[9] It survives in Italian strumento and Spanish instrumento, and English instrument came in the late 13th century, first of a musical instrument.^[1][10]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of equipment.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a means.^[2][5]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a legal document.^[2][5]
• late 13th century – English instrument is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. Equipment, tools, apparatus; a tool.^[2]
2. Outfit, chattels, stock.^[2]
3. A means, instrument; mental equipment.^[2]
4. (law) Evidence; a document, deed.^[2]
5. (Medieval Latin) A book of Scripture.^[9]

Related words

• īnstructē
• īnstructiō
• īnstructor
• īnstructūra
• īnstrūctus
• īnstruō
• English instrument

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com