Etymologically
Log in

oratiuncula

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 21:15. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [oː.raː.tiˈʊŋ.kʊ.ɫa][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [o.rat.t͡siˈuŋ.ku.la][1]

Forms

ōrātiuncula f (genitive ōrātiunculae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ōrātiō (“speech”) + -unculus (“diminutive suffix”).[2][1] The noun comes from ōrō (“to plead, speak”), which de Vaan takes as a verb formed on ōs1 (“mouth”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in Cicero,[4] who tells Atticus that he will send him his ōrātiunculae, his “little speeches”.[5]

Semantic evolution

The diminutive was used of any speech, often out of modesty and sometimes with contempt:[5] Cicero calls a speech of Laelius a “little golden speech” and dismisses the slight speeches of Aelius,[5][6] Quintilian uses it of Cicero's speech for Milo,[5] Tacitus says Calvus satisfies in hardly one or two short speeches, and Pliny the Younger of a short speech he means to publish.[5][7]

In Christian and medieval Latin it also meant a short prayer.[8][9]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of his own speeches.[5][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of Cicero's speech for Milo.[5][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of the speeches of Calvus.[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A short speech, a few remarks; a speech spoken of modestly or with contempt.[2][6][5]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A short prayer.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  8. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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