patriarchia

Forms

patriarchia f (genitive patriarchiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

Wiktionary takes it as a borrowing: it is borrowed from Ancient Greek πατριαρχία (patriarkhía), from πατριάρχης (patriárkhēs).^[1] The DMLBS analyses it instead as formed within Latin from patriarcha with the suffix -ia,^[2] and Köbler refers it to the same noun.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is John of Amalfi, about 1100,^[3] where it means the dignity of a patriarch.^[4][3]

Semantic evolution

It named the rank and jurisdiction of a patriarch, the patriarchate.^[4][2] British writers also used it of a patriarchal church, and especially of the five principal churches of Rome.^[2][1] In a Polish text of 1514 it is the patriarchate of the Muscovite church.^[5] English patriarchy, first an ecclesiastical province under a patriarch, comes from the Latinized Greek word.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 1100 – John of Amalfi uses it for the dignity of a patriarch.^[3]
• 1514 – A Polish source names the patriarchate of Muscovy with it.^[5]
• 1560s – English patriarchy appears, for a province under a patriarch.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, Christianity) The office, dignity or jurisdiction of a patriarch; a patriarchate.^[4][2][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) A patriarchal church, especially one of the five principal basilicas of Rome.^[2][1]

References

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