Etymologically
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iudicium

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [juːˈdɪ.ki.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [juˈdiː.t͡ʃi.um][1]

Forms

iūdicium n (genitive iūdiciī or iūdicī); second declension[1] Early inscriptions have ioud-.[2]

Etymology

It is from iūdex “judge” with the suffix -ium.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of authority and of a decision.[2] Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant legal proceedings before a judge, a trial, as in Terence, and in Cicero in iūdicium vocāre to bring to trial, a court, a verdict, and the exercise of judgement.[2] From Plautus it meant authority to decide and any decision or opinion.[2] In Cicero it also meant a resolve, a considered view, esteem, and the faculty of judging, taste, discernment.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant judgment, trial, sentence.[5] Medieval Latin used it for a judicial assembly, a record of a sentence, justice, the law, and iūdicium Deī for the judicial duel and the ordeal.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for legal proceedings, a trial.[7] It survives in Spanish juicio, Portuguese juízo and Romanian județ, and its adjective iūdiciālis gave English judicial in the late 14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of authority and decisions.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a trial.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a court and of discernment.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A trial, in iūdicium vocāre, to bring to trial.[2]
  2. A court, tribunal.[2]
  3. Judging; authority to decide.[2]
  4. A verdict; a decision, opinion.[2]
  5. A resolve; a view; esteem.[2]
  6. Judgement, discernment.[2]
  7. (Medieval Latin) iūdicium Deī, the ordeal; the judicial duel.[6]

Word family

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