Etymologically
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rata

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Forms

rata f (genitive ratae); first declension[1] Also spelled rada.[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin ratus (“fixed, settled”), the past participle of reor (“to reckon, think”), in the feminine and used as a noun with pars (“part”) understood.[1][3][4] Köbler leaves the origin of the medieval noun open.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first records to the 9th century, as a share in a common right or in a tax.[2]

Semantic evolution

In medieval documents it meant first a proportion, in the phrases secundum ratam and pro rata “in proportion to”, then a share in the use of common land and a person's assessed share of a tax.[1] A Flemish chronicle uses it alone for the share each person had to contribute,[5] and Ecclesiastical Latin keeps the senses “rate, fixed amount” and pro rata “proportionately”.[6]

English took rate in the early 15th century, partly from this Medieval Latin word.[4]

Timeline

  • 9th century – First records, as a share in a common right or a tax.[2]
  • early 15th century – English rate is formed partly from Medieval Latin rata.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A proportion;[1][6] secundum ratam, pro rata: in proportion to.[1][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A share in the use of common land.[1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A share of a tax, an assessment.[1]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A rate, fixed amount.[6]

Usage notes

Köbler lists a separate Medieval Latin rata “raft”, from ratis, recorded in 1340.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  6. ^ a b c d Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson