pax

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpaːks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpaks]^[1]

Forms

pāx f (genitive pācis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *pāk- (“agreement, peace”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- (“agreement”), from the root “to fix, join”, as in pacīscor “to make a bargain”.^[2][1][3] Cognate with Umbrian pase (“peace”) and Umbrian pacer (“merciful, propitious”), and further with Sanskrit पाश (pā́śa-).^[2][4] Festus reports that Sinnius Capito derived it from pactiō “agreement”.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was first a pact ending or averting war, a peace treaty, and the favour granted by the gods.^[3] Tuā pāce meant “by your leave”, and pāx was also peaceful life as opposed to war, pāx Rōmāna the order of the Roman empire, the goddess Peace, and the calm of the sea and winds.^[3][7] As an interjection pāx! meant “enough!”, in Plautus and Terence.^[8][1] Döderlein contrasts ōtium, quiet times, and concordia, internal harmony.^[9]

In medieval Latin it was refraining from violence, the settling of a private feud, and the keeping of order.^[10] In Ecclesiastical Latin it was the kiss of peace.^[11] It survives as Italian pace, French paix, Spanish paz and Romanian pace.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero contrasts peace and war (in pāce, in bellō).^[7][6]
• mid-12th century – English peace is recorded, from Anglo-French pes.^[11]
• late 14th century – English pax “kiss of peace” is recorded.^[11]

Meanings

Noun

1. A pact, peace treaty, settlement.^[3][5]
2. The favour of the gods.^[3][1]
3. Tuā pāce, by your leave.^[3][1]
4. Peace, as opposed to war, pāx Rōmāna, the Roman peace.^[3]
5. Calm (of the sea or winds).^[3]
6. Pāx, the goddess of peace.^[3][7]
7. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The kiss of peace.^[11]
8. (Medieval Latin) The settling of a feud; public order.^[10]

Interjection

1. Enough! Silence!^[8][1]

Word family

• pācālis
• pācifer
• pācificus
• pācō
• pācātē
• pācātiō
• pācātor
• pācātōrius
• pācātum
• pācātus
• pācificō

Related words

• pacīscor
• compecīscor
• compectum
• pangō
• English peace
• English pay

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
9. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
10. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
11. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com