musicalis

Forms

mūsicālis (neuter mūsicāle); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is a Medieval Latin formation,^[2] from Latin mūsica (“music”) + -ālis (“relating to”).^[1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it to the 12th century from Latham's word list,^[4] and the Lexicon musicum Latinum quotes a 12th-century treatise on chant: per septem litterās volvitur cantus mūsicālis, “musical chant turns on seven letters”.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In medieval music theory it qualifies melody and chant, notes and figures of notation, sounds, instruments, compositions and performance, and the study of music.^[5][2] Applied to people it means skilled in music, knowing its theory.^[5] English musical (early 15th century) is from the Medieval Latin.^[3]

Timeline

• 12th century – A treatise on chant speaks of cantus mūsicālis.^[5][4]
• early 15th century – English musical “pertaining to music” is first recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Of or relating to music, musical (of chant, notes, sounds, instruments).^[5][2][1][6]
2. (Medieval Latin) Skilled in music; versed in music theory.^[5]

Related words

• mūsicus
• English musical

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e f Lexicon musicum Latinum medii aevi (1992–), Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften; online ed. Wörterbuchnetz
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson