quadratum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kʷaˈdraː.tũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kʷaˈdraː.tum]^[1]

Forms

quadrātum n (genitive quadrātī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of quadrātus, participle of quadrō “to make square”, from quadrus and quattuor “four”.^[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨quattuor⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwṓr (“four”), with ⟨quat-⟩ from zero-grade forms such as ⟨*kʷtru-⟩, cognate with Oscan ⟨pettiur⟩ “four”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, and the OLD cites him for a geometric square.^[3][2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a geometric square or square object, as in Cicero; squared stone and a square block, as in Vitruvius; and in Pliny the quadrature of two heavenly bodies 90° apart.^[2]

German Quadrat is from it.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a square.^[2][3]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of squared stone.^[2][3]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it in astronomy.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A square; a square object.^[2]
2. Squared stone; a square block.^[2]
3. (astronomy) Quadrature.^[2]

Related words

• quadrātus
• quadrō
• quadrus
• quadrātūra

Usage notes

Quadrātum was also the name of towns in Pannonia and Liburnia.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.