Etymologically
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paga

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Forms

paga f (genitive pagae); first declension[1] Niermeyer lists the spellings pagha, pagua and paiga.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin pācō (“to pacify; to satisfy a creditor, pay”),[2][3] a verb that Medieval Latin also spelled ⟨pagare⟩.[3][2] The verb comes from pāx (“peace”) and in Medieval Latin especially meant “to satisfy a creditor”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS's first example is from 1254, a record of money for paying the sailors (marinelli), in the sense payment.[3]

Semantic evolution

Niermeyer gives the senses “payment” and “pay, wages, salary”.[2] A document of 1439 from the archives of Pavia speaks of the paga due to Franciscus Philelphus for his salary as a teacher.[1] English pay “wages” comes from the Old French noun of the same family.[4]

Timeline

  • 1254 – A record speaks of money for paying the sailors.[3]
  • 1439 – A document from Pavia uses it of a teacher's monthly salary.[1]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) payment.[2][3][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) pay, wages, salary.[2][1]

Usage notes

A separate Medieval Latin paga means a district and comes from pagus.[5][6] Du Cange quotes Asser's account of King Alfred, who was born at the royal estate of Wanading in the paga called Barroscire.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e 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
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  6. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de