Etymologically
Log in

inventarium

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:35. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

inventārium n (genitive inventāriī or inventārī); second declension[1] Medieval Latin also has inventōrium.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from inventum “something found”, from inveniō “to find”, with the suffix -ārium.[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the mining law of Vipasca, of the 2nd century AD.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a list, catalogue, inventory.[4]

In Ecclesiastical and Medieval Latin it meant an inventory, list, also as inventōrium.[6][2] British Medieval Latin has an inventory made at Sonning in 1220.[3] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish inventario and French inventaire, and Medieval Latin inventōrium gave English inventory through Old French in the early 15th century.[1][7]

Timeline

  • 2nd century AD – The law of Vipasca uses it.[5]
  • 1220 – An inventory is made at Sonning.[3]
  • early 15th century – English inventory is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A list, catalogue, inventory.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com