methodus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈmɛ.tʰɔ.dʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛː.to.dus]^[1]

Forms

methodus f (genitive methodī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek μέθοδος (méthodos, “pursuit; method of inquiry”),^[1][2][3] from μετά (metá, “after, in pursuit of”) and ὁδός (hodós, “way”).^[4] The form methodos is also found.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Vitruvius, at the beginning of On Architecture, uses it in medicine.^[2][5] Köbler dates Vitruvius c. 84–c. 25 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a systematic procedure according to rules, a method of teaching or proceeding, and especially a method in medicine.^[2][6][5] Celsus still writes it as Greek, while Vitruvius, Ausonius and Caelius Aurelianus use the Latin form.^[2]

British medieval writers used it of a mode of proceeding and in logic, and John of Salisbury explains that the Greeks call an art a methodos, a short way that avoids nature's detours.^[7] English method is recorded in the early 15th century as a systematic treatment of disease.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it.^[2][3]
• c. 310–394 AD – Ausonius uses it.^[2][3]
• 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it in medicine.^[2][3]
• early 15th century – English method is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A method, systematic procedure; a way of teaching.^[2][1]
2. (medicine) A method of treatment.^[5][4]
3. (Medieval Latin, logic) A method.^[7]

Related words

• methodicē
• methodicus
• methodium
• English method

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ 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