norma

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈnɔr.ma]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔr.ma]^[1]

Forms

norma f (genitive normae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is perhaps borrowed from Ancient Greek γνώμων (gnṓmōn, “carpenter's square”), borrowed through Etruscan, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”).^[2][1][3] Lewis and Short derived it from ⟨*gnōrima⟩, comparing Ancient Greek γνώριμος (gnṓrimos).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Lucretius, of a carpenter's square.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a square used by carpenters, builders and surveyors for right angles, and in Vitruvius a right angle, ad normam “at right angles”.^[2][4][6] From Cicero it meant a standard, pattern, rule of conduct, as ad normam alicuius sapiēns “wise by someone's standard”.^[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a norm, rule, standard, way of life, and in canon law an ordinance.^[7] Medieval Latin used it for a monastic rule and community.^[8] It survives in Italian and Spanish norma and French norme, and English norm came in 1821 through French.^[1][3] Its derivatives ēnōrmis and nōrmālis gave English enormous and English normal.^[3]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a carpenter's square.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a standard.^[2][5]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of a right angle.^[2][5]
• 1821 – English norm is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A carpenter's square; a right angle.^[2]
2. A standard, pattern, rule.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) A monastic rule.^[8]

Word family

• abnōrmis
• ēnōrmis
• inormis
• nōrmālis
• nōrmō
• normula
• anōrmalus
• normāliter
• normātiō
• normātūra
• normātus

Related words

• English norm
• English normal
• English enormous

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill