Etymologically
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laurea

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫau̯.re.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlaːu̯.re.a][1]

Forms

laurea f (genitive laureae); first declension[1] Also lōrea.[2]

Etymology

It is the feminine of laureus “of laurel”, from laurus “laurel”, used as a noun.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of victory.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a laurel tree, as in Cato and Horace; a laurel branch or wreath, carried in triumph and dedicated to Jupiter, as in Cicero's concēdat laurea laudī, worn in religious ceremonies, as in Livy, and given to poets as the sign of Apollo, as in Horace; and a victory, triumph, as in Plautus.[2][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was laurel, triumph, victory, a wreath, and an academic degree.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for a laurel wreath, a crown, and the crown of thorns.[6] Köbler records laurea titulī, a master's degree.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of victory.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of the tree.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the triumphal wreath.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A laurel tree.[2]
  2. A laurel branch or wreath.[2]
  3. A victory, triumph.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A crown; an academic degree.[6][5]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b 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