Etymologically
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magistra

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [maˈɡɪs.tra][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [maˈd͡ʒis.tra][1]

Forms

magistra f (genitive magistrae, masculine magister); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is the feminine of magister (“master, teacher”).[2][1] De Vaan derives magister from the family of magnus (“great”), with a comparative stem Proto-Italic *ma(g)is-tero-, comparing Umbrian mestru (“bigger”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has it: in the Stichus someone says he comes as a pupil to his teachers.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Terence uses it of a schoolmistress.[5] Inscriptions have it for a woman in charge, a high priestess, and call Venus the mistress of human and divine affairs.[2][5] Martial has a woman expert in vice who is to train a beginner.[2] Applied to things, Cicero speaks of nature as teacher and guide.[2] In medieval Latin it is the superior of a nunnery, a schoolmistress and a children's governess.[6] Köbler finds it in a capitulary of 802.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of teachers.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence of a schoolmistress.[5][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of nature as a teacher.[2][4]
  • 40–102/103 AD – Martial of an expert woman.[2][4]
  • 802 – A capitulary uses it.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A woman in charge, a directress, superintendent; a high priestess.[2][5][7][1]
  2. A woman expert, mistress.[2]
  3. A female teacher, instructress; of things, a teacher, guide.[2][5][7][1]
  4. (Medieval Latin) The superior of a nunnery; a schoolmistress; a governess.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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 g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson