prioria

Forms

priōria f (genitive priōriae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a Medieval Latin formation from Latin prior + -ia.^[2][3] The DMLBS compares Middle English priorie and Old French priorie.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first record, from Niermeyer, to 1129,^[3] meaning a priory.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It named a religious house governed by a prior or prioress, ranking below an abbey,^[2][5] and also the office of a prior.^[5] In England it appears in records from the early 13th century on.^[2] Through Anglo-French priorie it gave English priory.^[5]

Timeline

• 1129 – First record, according to Köbler from Niermeyer.^[3]
• 1212 – An English record of fees speaks of land given to a priory.^[2]
• late 13th century – English borrows the Anglo-French form as priorie.^[5]
• 1373 – A patent roll records a large book sold at the priory of Dartford.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A priory, a religious house governed by a prior or prioress.^[4][2]
2. The office of a prior.^[5]

Related words

• prioratus
• English priory

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 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. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com