Etymologically
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manceps

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈmaŋ.kɛps][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈman̠ʲ.t͡ʃeps][1]

Forms

manceps m (genitive mancipis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from prehistoric ⟨*manu-kaps⟩, by syncope, from manus “hand” and ⟨-ceps⟩ “taker”, from capiō “to take”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a purchaser at a public auction, and so a contractor, agent, a farmer of public revenues, as in Cicero.[3][5][2] In Pliny the Elder it meant a lessee of property and a wholesaler.[2]

British Medieval Latin used it for a contractor, a servant, and a manciple.[6] It survives in Spanish and Portuguese mancebo “young man” and Italian mancipe.[1] Its derivative mancipium gave Old French mancipe and English manciple.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a contractor.[5][4]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a lessee.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A purchaser (at auction); a contractor, agent.[2][3]
  2. A lessee; a dealer.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A servant; a manciple.[6]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  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
  7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com