librarium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [lɪˈbraː.ri.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈbraː.ri.um]^[1]

Forms

librārium n (genitive librāriī or librārī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of librārius “of books”, from liber “book”, with the suffix -ārium “place for”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot and Köbler cite Cicero's speech for Milo, of a case for papers.^[4][5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a case or chest for books or papers, as in Cicero and Ammianus.^[2][4]

In British Medieval Latin it was a collection of books and its case or chest, and a room or building for books, a library.^[6] English library (late 14th century) came through Anglo-French librarie, and Etymonline's sources for it are this word and librāria “bookshop”, a library in Medieval Latin.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[4][5]
• c. 390 AD – Ammianus Marcellinus uses it.^[4][5]
• late 14th century – English library is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A case or chest for books, a bookcase.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) A collection of books; a library.^[6]

Related words

• liber
• librārius
• English library

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
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