Etymologically
Log in

iurata

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word iurata

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1091, Consuetudines Normanniae
Ultimate origin
Latin iūs#2
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin ius
Latin iuro
French jurer
Latin iurata
From the same root
Latin iurgo ← ius
Latin iusiurandum ← ius
Latin iustitium ← ius
Latin abiuro ← iuro
Latin adiuro ← iuro
Latin coniuro ← iuro
Latin eiuro ← iuro

Forms

iūrāta f (genitive iūrātae); first declension[1] Niermeyer also gives the form jurea.[2]

Etymology

Used as a noun, it is the feminine past participle from Latin iūrō (“to swear”),[3][1][4] which comes from iūs (“law, right”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is the Norman customs of 1091,[1] and the word means an oath sworn together with oath-helpers.[2][1]

Semantic evolution

In England the word came to mean the jury, a body of men sworn to give a verdict or to answer an inquiry,[4][2] and also a case put before such a body.[4] Du Cange describes the English jury as twelve lawful sworn men on whose verdict the judge based his sentence.[5] An old register of the French crown uses it for a tax levied on sworn burgesses.[5]

It passed into Anglo-French and Old French as juree, the source of the English word jury, which appears in Anglo-Latin documents from the late 12th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 1091 – The Norman customs (Consuetudines Normanniae) use it of an oath sworn with oath-helpers.[1][2]
  • 1167 – An English Pipe Roll uses it for a jury inquiring into a knight's fee.[4]
  • 1196 – The English Curia Regis rolls use it for an oath.[4]
  • early 14th century – The English word jury appears, from Anglo-French juree.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) An oath, especially one sworn with oath-helpers.[2][1][4]
  2. (Medieval Latin, law) A jury, a body of sworn men giving a verdict.[2][4][5]
  3. (Medieval Latin, law) A case presented to a jury.[4]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A tax levied on sworn burgesses.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
Cite this entry

“Iurata.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/iurata. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·