Etymologically

partionarius

Etymology and origin of the Latin word partionarius

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
742
Ultimate origin
Latin partiō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin pars
French part
Italian parte
Latin partio
French partir
Italian partire
Italian partito
Latin partionarius
From the same root
Latin expers ← pars
Latin particula ← pars
English jeopardy ← partio
Latin departio ← partio
Latin dispertio ← partio
Latin impertio ← partio
French repartir ← partir
Italian partita ← partire

Forms

partionarius (feminine partionaria, neuter partionarium); first/second-declension adjective, also used as a masculine noun[1] Niermeyer records the spellings portionarius, parcinarius and parcenarius for the noun.[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin partiō (“to share, divide”), with the suffix ⟨-ārius⟩.[2] The DMLBS labels it a Medieval Latin word.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is a charter of 742.[2] Niermeyer's first sense is “concerning a division of property”.[1]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it also described property held in common.[1] Used as a noun, it meant a joint owner, a parcener.[1][3] British records use it for co-owners and joint tenants of land, for example those holding a castle undivided, or owing one knight's service together.[3]

Timeline

  • 742 – A charter uses it.[2]
  • 1200 – A British charter names an abbot, a prior and all their partionarii as holders of villages.[3]
  • 1304 – A British register speaks of one knight's service done for a man and his co-owners.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Concerning a partition of property.[1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Owned jointly.[1]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A joint owner or tenant, a parcener.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  2. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Partionarius.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/partionarius. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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