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procuratia

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word procuratia

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1220
Ultimate origin
Latin cūra
From the same root
English proxy ← procuratia

Forms

prōcūrātia f (genitive prōcūrātiae); first declension[1] It is also spelled procuracia.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin prōcūrātus + -ia,[3][2] the first part being the past participle of prōcūrō (“to take care of, manage”).[3][1] Du Cange treats it as the same word as prōcūrātiō.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest example in the DMLBS is from 1220: a proctor is sent with letters de procuratia, that is, with his authority to act for others.[3]

Semantic evolution

In England it soon meant the dues owed for the maintenance of a visiting bishop or legate, at first paid in kind and later in money;[3][4] Matthew Paris complains that such procuratiae and gifts were exacted for the papal legate.[3][4] Köbler glosses it as the annual payment to the papal nuncio.[1]

In Italy it was the district, office or chamber of a procurator; a Venetian document of 1542 is dated in the Procuratia of St Mark's.[4][5] In Poland it meant a steward's office, the land under a steward, and a power of attorney in court.[2]

Timeline

  • 1220 – A proctor is sent with letters of procuratia.[3]
  • 1241 – A lawsuit concerns the exaction of procuratiae.[3]
  • 1348 – Edward III lets cardinals levy their procuratiae through proctors.[3][4]
  • 1420 – Polish accounts use it for a steward's office.[2]
  • 1493 – The archives of the University of Vienna use it for the office of a procurator.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) The office or authority of a procurator or proctor.[3][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Procuration: dues for maintenance, especially those owed to a visiting bishop or papal legate.[3][4][1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) The district, office or chamber of a procurator, especially in Italy.[4][5]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A steward's office or administration; the land under a steward.[2]
  5. (Medieval Latin, law) A power of attorney.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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
  4. ^ a b c d e f g du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  5. ^ a b c d Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Procuratia.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/procuratia. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·