Etymologically
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libellus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [lɪˈbɛl.lʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈbɛl.lus][1]

Forms

libellus m (genitive libellī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the diminutive of liber “book”, with -lus.[2][1] Liber first meant the bark of a tree; de Vaan derives it from Proto-Italic *lufro-, Proto-Indo-European *lubʰ-ro- (“leaf, rind”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has “I have brought you a little in this sealed document”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a small book, as Cicero's “the little book of the Twelve Tables outweighs the libraries of all philosophers” and Catullus' “charming new little book”.[2][5] It meant a notebook or register, as Cicero's two books of export accounts, a formal document or report, a public notice or placard, as in Petronius, and the programme of a show.[2]

It also meant a petition and, from post-Augustan times, a lampoon or a written accusation, as in Juvenal and the Digest.[1][6] In medieval Latin it meant an accusatory or slanderous libel and a written sentence.[6] English libel came from it through Old French around 1300, first meaning a written statement.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a sealed document.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a small book and of account books.[2][4]
  • 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus calls his poems a little book.[5][4]
  • c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses it of an accusation.[6][4]
  • c. 1300 – English libel is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A little book, pamphlet.[2][1]
  2. A notebook, register.[2][1]
  3. A document, report; a list.[2]
  4. A public notice, placard.[2][1]
  5. A programme (of a show).[2][1]
  6. A petition.[1][4]
  7. (post-Augustan) A lampoon; a written accusation, libel.[1][6]

Word family

  • libellaris
  • libellensis
  • libelliō
  • libellulus
  • liber
  • librāriolus
  • librārius
  • English libel

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com