militia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [miːˈlɪ.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [miˈlit.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

mīlitia f (genitive mīlitiae); first declension^[1] A form mīlitiēs also occurs.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from mīles “soldier” with the suffix -ia.^[2][1][4] Isidore derives it from ⟨mīlitēs⟩, or fancifully from ⟨multī⟩ or ⟨mōlēs⟩.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of military service.^[2] Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant military service, as in Plautus, and in Cicero a campaign; the locative mīlitiae meant in the field, at war.^[2][3] In Pliny mīlitia equestris was a term as a cavalry officer, and in Livy it meant soldiers collectively, the military organization.^[2]

Medieval Latin used it for help, wages, saeculāris mīlitia the secular career, an office, especially at court, vassal service, and the status of a knight.^[7] Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for military service, the army, and employment at court.^[8] It survives in Italian milizia, French milice and Spanish milicia, and English militia is recorded from the 1580s, first “military discipline”.^[1][4]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^[6]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of service.^[2][6]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of soldiers collectively.^[2][6]
• 1580s – English militia is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Military service, mīlitiae, in the field.^[2]
2. A campaign.^[2]
3. A cavalry command.^[2]
4. Soldiers; the military.^[2]
5. (Medieval Latin) An office at court; vassal service; knighthood.^[7]

Word family

• militiola

Related words

• mīles
• mīlitāris
• mīlitāriter
• mīlitārius
• mīlitō
• English militia

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 j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson