Etymologically
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recordum

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Forms

recordum n (genitive recordī); second declension[1][2] Also recordium, ricordium and ricordum,[2] and in British sources the feminine recorda.[3]

Etymology

According to the DMLBS it is borrowed from Anglo-Norman record (also ⟨recorde⟩),[3] the noun from Old French recorder (“to tell, recall”), which goes back to Latin recordor (“to remember”).[4] Köbler derives it directly from the Latin verb.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest dated British example, from 1166, is in an account and refers to a written record of events.[3]

Semantic evolution

In the law of the Continent it meant evidence given from memory by witnesses, an arbitration award, and a statement of customary law;[1][2] Du Cange describes it as a judicial inquiry through witnesses into a doubtful matter.[5] British sources use it for memory, for the act of relating or writing down, and for an oral report or written record, especially in law, royal administration, towns and manors, as in curia de recordo, a court of record.[3] The English word record comes partly from it.[4]

Timeline

  • 1166 – A British account uses it of a written record.[3]
  • c. 1300 – English record appears, from Old French and in part from Medieval Latin.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, law) Evidence given from memory by witnesses; a judicial inquiry through witnesses.[1][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin, law) An arbitration award.[1]
  3. (Medieval Latin, law) A statement of customary law.[1][2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A record, oral report or written account;[3] curia de recordo, a court of record.[3]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Memory.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre