relevium

Forms

relevium n (genitive releviī); second declension^[1] Medieval spellings include relegium, religium, relivium and relevum.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is a medieval derivative from Latin relevō (“to raise again, lighten, relieve”).^[2][3][1] The DMLBS compares Old French relevée for its sense “afternoon” and Middle English and Old French relief for the leftovers of a meal.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first record is a charter of 886–927;^[1] Niermeyer gives the senses “fallow land” and “feudal relief”, the payment due on taking over a fief.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word followed the meanings of relevō, “to raise” and “to relieve”.^[3] In feudal law it was the payment an heir made to his lord on taking possession of an estate,^[2][3] and in British sources also a payment by a tenant on the election of a bishop or abbot.^[3] An English charter of about 955 uses it for the relief of the donor's soul,^[3] and later British texts for the remnants of a meal given as alms, for support of the poor, and for the time when one rises again after rest, the afternoon.^[3]

Timeline

• 886–927 – A charter has the word.^[1]
• c. 955 – An English charter grants land for the relief of the donor's soul.^[3]
• 1297 – A court roll of Hales uses it for the afternoon.^[3]
• 1587 – A patent roll uses it for the support of the poor.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) fallow land.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin, law) relief, the payment made by an heir to the lord on taking over a fief.^[2][3]
3. (Medieval Latin) Relief, alleviation (of a soul); support, maintenance.^[3]
4. (Medieval Latin) The leftovers of a meal, given as alms.^[3]
5. (Medieval Latin) The afternoon.^[3]

Related words

• relevātiō
• English relief

References

1. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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