Etymologically
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oppidum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɔp.pɪ.dũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔp.pi.dum][1]

Forms

oppidum n (genitive oppidī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is usually analysed as ob with Proto-Italic *pedo- (“ground, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *ped-o- (“trodden, place”), the root of pēs “foot”.[2][3][4] Cognate with Umbrian peřum (“ground”) and Ancient Greek πέδον (pédon, “ground”).[2][4] De Vaan notes that Naevius used it both for a fort and for the barriers of the circus, and that “barriers” fits a link with “foot” better.[2] The OLD calls it doubtful.[5] Isidore gives ancient guesses: from the walls set against enemies, or from the wealth stored there.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius, who, according to Varro, called the starting barriers of the circus oppidum.[2][3][5] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a town, especially an Italian or provincial town as opposed to Rome, the urbs, as Plautus says any town can be taken by tricks.[5] Gaffiot stresses the sense of a fortified town, and in Caesar it is any fortified place.[7]

In medieval Latin it was a walled town, a fortress or castle, and in Britain a borough.[8][9]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it for the barriers of the circus.[5][3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says any town can be taken by trickery.[5][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of any fortified place.[7][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A town (as opposed to Rome).[5]
  2. A fortified town, a stronghold.[7]
  3. The starting barriers of the circus (in Naevius).[5]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A fortress, castle; a borough.[8][9]

Word family

  • oppidaneus
  • oppidānus
  • oppidātim
  • oppidulum

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  7. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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