Etymologically
Log in

precaria

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 06:21. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

precāria f (genitive precāriae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin precārius (“obtained by entreaty”), the feminine used as a noun, short for ⟨charta precāria⟩ “deed of petition”.[1][2] That adjective comes from prex (“prayer, request”).[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Wiktionary dates it to the Formulary of Marculf (720–730), a collection of model charters, where it means a petition.[1][4] Niermeyer's first sense is the deed in which someone who has asked a church or lord for land states that it was granted at his request.[2]

Semantic evolution

As a legal term it named both the document and the contract, by which land was held for a yearly rent, at first for a fixed term (often five years) and then for life or for several lives.[2] It also meant the tenure itself and the land so held.[2] Niermeyer notes that the link between this medieval institution and the Roman precārium is disputed.[2]

It also named a tax (German Bede)[2] and, in English manors, the boon-work that tenants did for the lord at the lord's request, especially at harvest.[2][5] In Bordeaux it was the bidding prayers at Mass.[6]

Timeline

  • 720–730 – The Formulary of Marculf has it for a deed of precarial grant.[1][4]
  • c. 1160 – A British charter mentions precariae belonging to an estate.[5]
  • 1215 – A Pomeranian charter frees villagers from all precariae, a feudal tax.[7]
  • 1223 – A British record names a harvest boon called alebedripe.[5]
  • before 1305 – The customs of Sainte-Croix in Bordeaux use it for the prayers said at Mass.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A precarial deed, a charter granting land at the holder's request.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) The contract or tenure by which such land was held for a rent; the land itself.[2][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A tallage or similar feudal tax.[2][6][7]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Boon-work, work owed to the lord at his request, especially at harvest.[2][5]
  5. (Medieval Latin) The bidding prayers at Mass.[6]

Usage notes

Georges records a classical neuter plural precāria under precārius.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d 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 c d e du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  7. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  8. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn