problematicus

Pronunciation

• Classical: [prɔ.bɫeːˈma.tɪ.kʊs]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [pro.bleˈmaː.ti.kus]^[1]

Forms

problēmaticus (feminine problēmatica, neuter problēmaticum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek προβληματικός (problēmatikós),^[1][2][3] from πρόβλημα (próblēma, “problem”).^[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The only ancient example is in Caelius Aurelianus (5th century AD),^[5][3] where the neuter plural problematica appears to be the title of a medical work; the passage is corrupt.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

In Neo-Latin George of Trebizond, writing against Gaza, speaks of “problematic philosophy”, the philosophy of problems.^[6] English problematic, first meaning doubtful or unsettled, dates from around 1600; it came through French problématique.^[4]

Timeline

• 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus refers to problematica, apparently the title of a medical work.^[5][3]
• c. 1600 – English has problematic, through French.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to problems, problematic.^[1][7][6]
2. problēmatica (neuter plural as a noun): problematic cases, as the title of a medical work.^[2][7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
7. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.