Etymologically
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maior

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmaj.jɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmaː.jor][1]

Forms

māior (neuter māius, genitive māiōris); comparative of magnus; third declension[2][1]

Etymology

It is the comparative of magnus “great”, inherited from Proto-Italic *magjōs (“greater”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *mǵ-i(V)s- (“greater”).[3] Wiktionary reconstructs it as *méǵh₂yōs, formed with the comparative suffix *-yōs.[1] Cognate with Oscan mais (“more”) and Umbrian mestru (“bigger”).[3] Plautus still writes it with a double ⟨i⟩, ⟨maiior⟩.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan records it from the Twelve Tables onwards, where fetters of fifteen pounds are allowed but no greater ones.[3][2] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant greater in size or in number, and of persons older, often with nātū “by birth”: Plautus speaks of an elder master.[2] In the plural māiōrēs were the elders and the ancestors.[1] In abstract use it meant more intense or more important, as vīs maior “force majeure” and morbus maior “epilepsy”, and of persons more eminent or exalted.[2]

Medieval Latin used it of a cathedral, māior ecclēsia, and of the cases reserved to higher courts, causae māiōrēs.[5] As a noun it named a steward or headman, the ancestor of Old French maire and English mayor.[1][6] English major is from the same comparative.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it of fetters.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus writes maiior and uses it of an elder master.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English mayor is recorded, from Old French maire.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Greater, larger, bigger.[2][7]
  2. Greater in number or amount.[2]
  3. Older, elder; in the plural, ancestors, forefathers.[2][1]
  4. More intense, vīs māior superior force, morbus māior epilepsy.[2]
  5. More important; greater in power or reputation, more eminent.[2]
  6. (Medieval Latin) As a noun, a headman of a town, mayor.[1][5]

Word family

  • māiōriārius
  • māiōrīnus
  • majusculus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.