quaestiuncula

Forms

quaestiuncula f (genitive quaestiunculae); first declension^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin quaestiō (“inquiry, question”) + -culus,^[1] a diminutive.^[2][3] quaestiō is derived from quaerō (“to seek, ask”),^[4] whose further origin is uncertain; de Vaan prefers Nussbaum's link with Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂-i- (“to acquire”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Cicero,^[5] who writes of putting a little question to someone (quaestiunculam ponere) in the De oratore.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Cicero also has many little questions in the De legibus.^[2][6] Seneca uses it in his letters, Quintilian of boys setting one another little questions of every kind, and Suetonius of minute questions.^[2][3]

In medieval Latin it meant a query or problem, often philosophical or theological.^[7] Alcuin complains that little questions settle in his ears like insects flying in at summer windows.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a little question.^[2][5]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it in his letters.^[2][5]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of questions boys set each other.^[2][5]
• 798 – Alcuin compares little questions to insects at the window.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A small problem, puzzle; a trifling question.^[1][2]
2. (Medieval Latin) A query or dilemma, often philosophical or theological.^[7]

Related words

• quaestiō
• quaerō

References

1. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ 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