paraphernalis

Forms

paraphernalis (neuter paraphernale); third-declension adjective^[1][2] Medieval spellings include parafrenalis, parafernalis, parapharnalis and perefrenalis.^[1][2]

Etymology

It is a medieval adjective from Latin parapherna (“a wife's property besides her dowry”),^[1][2][3] formed with the suffix -ālis.^[4] The noun goes back to Ancient Greek παράφερνα (parápherna).^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a medieval legal word;^[4] Alexander Neckam already asks which things are parafernales.^[4] It was used in the phrase bona paraphernalia, the goods a wife brought into the marriage apart from her dowry.^[5][1] The Polish dictionary cites a Silesian document of 1417 speaking of res paraphernales.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In medieval law it qualified a married woman's own property, sometimes distinguished from the dowry, as in the phrases bona paraphernalia and res paraphernales; the neuter plural paraphernalia could also stand alone for such goods.^[5][4][1] In Poland it was also used of a bride's trousseau and household goods.^[2]

English took over paraphernalia in the 1650s as a legal term for a woman's property besides her dowry; the sense of equipment or odds and ends is recorded from 1736.^[3]

Timeline

• 1417 – A Silesian document speaks of res paraphernales.^[2]
• 1650s – English borrows the neuter plural as paraphernalia, a term of law.^[3]
• 1736 – English paraphernalia is first recorded in the sense of equipment.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (law) Belonging to a married woman's own property beyond her dowry: bona paraphernalia, such goods.^[5][1][4]
2. (neuter plural as a noun) A wife's own goods; also a bride's trousseau, household goods.^[4][2]

Related words

• English paraphernalia

Usage notes

English paraphernalia is short for the Medieval Latin phrase paraphernalia bona.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f 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
5. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill