opifex

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɔ.pɪ.fɛks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔː.pi.feks]^[1]

Forms

opifex m or f (genitive opificis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from ops “power, resources” or opus “work” and ⟨-fex⟩ “maker”, from faciō “to make”.^[1][2] The TLL derives it from ⟨ops⟩ in the sense of ⟨opus⟩, and hardly from ⟨*opos⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a craftsman.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a craftsman, artificer, as in Plautus, and in Cicero anyone who works with his hands, a mechanic, artisan, often disparagingly.^[2] Cicero also used it of a maker or creator, such as the maker of the world.^[5][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for a craftsman, a skilled worker, a writer or author, and God as maker.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of artisans and of the maker of the world.^[2][5][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A craftsman, artificer.^[2]
2. An artisan, mechanic.^[2]
3. A maker, creator.^[5]

Word family

• officīna
• opificīna
• opificium

Related words

• opus
• ops
• faciō
• artifex

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ 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