Etymologically
Log in

plagium

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:35. It may differ significantly from the current version. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Current version Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpɫa.ɡi.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈplaː.d͡ʒi.um][1]

Forms

plagium n (genitive plagiī or plagī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from plaga “hunting net” with the suffix -ium, so originally “a catching”.[2][1][3] Wiktionary traces ⟨plaga⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- (“to weave”), as in plectō.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Varro, whom he dates 116–27 BC.[3] The OLD's citation for netting game is from Grattius.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant the netting of game, as in Grattius, and in law, as in Ulpian, kidnapping, the crime of stealing or selling a free man or another's slave.[2][4]

Medieval Latin used it for the crime of enslaving a free man or harbouring another's runaway slave.[4] British Medieval Latin used it for kidnapping, as in Alexander Neckam.[5] It survives in Italian and Spanish plagio “plagiarism”.[1] Its derivative plagiārius “kidnapper”, used by Martial of a literary thief, gave plagiary and English plagiarism.[6]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.[3]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of kidnapping.[2][3]
  • 1620s – English plagiarism is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The netting of game.[2]
  2. (law) Kidnapping.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: 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 Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com