Etymologically

militariter

Etymology and origin of the Latin word militariter

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Livy
Ultimate origin
Latin (mīles)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin miles
Latin militaris
English military
Latin militariter
Latin militarius

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [miː.lɪˈtaː.rɪ.tɛr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [mi.liˈtaː.ri.ter][1]

Forms

mīlitāriter (comparative mīlitārius, superlative mīlitārissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin mīlitāris (“military”) + -ter, from mīles (“soldier”).[2][1] De Vaan finds the first part of ⟨mīles⟩ unclear and tentatively connects it with ⟨mīlia⟩ “thousands”, “who goes with the thousand”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Livy.[4][5] Köbler dates Livy 59 BC–17 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant according to military practice or discipline, in the manner of a soldier, as in Livy and Tacitus.[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for in a soldierly manner, militarily.[6]

Timeline

  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it.[5][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it.[5][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. According to military practice; like a soldier.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Militariter.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/militariter. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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