Etymologically
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laxamentum

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɫak.saːˈmɛn.tũː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [lak.saˈmɛn.tum][1]

Forms

laxāmentum n (genitive laxāmentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin laxō (“to widen, relax”) + -mentum.[2][1][3] De Vaan lists ⟨laxāre⟩ among the derivatives of laxus (“wide, loose”), which goes back to Proto-Italic *(s)lakso- and Proto-Indo-European *slǵ-so- (“weak, faint”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found first in Cato's De agri cultura,[5][6] of free space: digitum pollicem laxamenti facito, “leave a thumb's breadth of room”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Besides free space or room, as in Vitruvius and in Seneca's wind that makes room for itself,[2][7][8] it meant free time, a pause or respite: Trebonius, in a letter among Cicero's, writes that he got a little leisure during his voyage, and Livy has a respite from the war with the Samnites.[2][9] It was also a relaxation of strictness, latitude or indulgence: Cicero says that no latitude was granted even to the law by a tribune, and Livy has the complaint that the laws allow nihil laxamenti, no indulgence.[2][8][9] Macrobius uses it of the purging of the bowels.[7][8]

British medieval writers use it for the release of tension, as Aelred does of the mind, and for a release or discharge from an obligation.[10]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of free space.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of latitude allowed to the law.[2][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a respite from war and of indulgence.[9][8][5]
  • 1st half of the 5th century AD – Macrobius uses it of purging.[7][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Free space, room.[2][7]
  2. Free time, leisure, intermission, respite.[2][9]
  3. Relaxation of restrictions, latitude, scope, indulgence.[2][8]
  4. A purging (of the bowels).[7][8]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Release of tension; release or discharge from an obligation.[10]

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. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  9. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  10. ^ 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