meridies

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [mɛˈriː.di.eːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [meˈriː.di.es]^[1]

Forms

merīdiēs m (genitive merīdiēī); fifth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a back-formation from the adverb ⟨merīdiē⟩ “at noon”, by dissimilation from ⟨*medī-diē⟩, the locative of medius “middle” and diēs “day”.^[2][1][3] The sense “south” comes from the sun's position at noon.^[1] Isidore explains it as ⟨medīdiēs⟩, or from ⟨merum⟩ “pure”, since the sky is then purest.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Law of the Twelve Tables, about 450 BC.^[3] The OLD's earliest citation for noon is from Terence.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant midday, noon, as in Terence, and in Cato the position of the sun at noon, the south.^[2] Döderlein explains that merīdiēs is noon as a point of time between forenoon and afternoon, while medius diēs is the middle of the day as a span.^[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant midday, noon, south, and per merīdiem at noon.^[6] British Medieval Latin used merīdiēs noctis for midnight.^[7] It survives in Italian meriggio, and English uses ante merīdiem and post merīdiem abbreviated English a.m. and English p.m..^[1][8]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^[3]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of the south.^[2][3]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of noon.^[2][3]
• 1660s – English p.m. is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Midday, noon.^[2]
2. The south.^[2]

Word family

• merīdiālis
• merīdiānus
• merīdiōnālis
• meridionarius
• prōmerīdiē
• antemerīdiem
• merīdiō

Related words

• diēs
• merīdiē
• medius
• English a.m.
• English p.m.

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from medius diēs.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ 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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com