Etymologically
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memoror

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈmɛ.mɔ.rɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɛː.mo.ror][1]

Forms

memoror (present infinitive memorārī, perfect active memorātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin memorō (“to mention, recall”), used as a deponent.[1][2] The active verb is formed from memor (“mindful”), which de Vaan derives from a reduplicated ⟨*me-mn-os-⟩, the root of meminī.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a word of Christian Latin.[4] Conte's earliest examples are from the Itala, the early Latin Bible, as in “remember your sons”.[5]

Semantic evolution

The Vulgate uses it for remembering or being mindful of something, with the genitive, the accusative or de and the ablative,[2][4] and it also occurs in an inscription and in Ambrose.[2] Lucifer of Cagliari construes it with an accusative and infinitive.[5]

Medieval writers used the deponent also in the sense of the active memorō, to mention or relate: ut supra memoravimus, “as we mentioned above”.[6]

Timeline

  • after 220 AD – The Itala uses it for remembering.[5][7]
  • 355–361 AD – Lucifer of Cagliari construes it with an accusative and infinitive.[5][7]
  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it with the genitive, accusative and de.[2][4][7]
  • 2nd quarter of the 9th century – Walahfrid Strabo uses it for recounting powers, kinds and names.[6][7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To remember, be mindful of.[4][2][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin) To mention, relate, tell.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ a b c Novum Glossarium Mediae Latinitatis ab anno DCCC usque ad annum MCC (1957–), Copenhagen / Geneva / Paris: Union Académique Internationale; IRHT
  7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de